Speed Where It Matters
Harmful content spreads quickly. We secure evidence early and move fast on the steps most likely to stop further harm.
Defamation · Malicious Falsehood · Harassment & Cyberbullying · Privacy & Confidentiality
Reputation Services
Reputation litigation, advisory and preventative measures.
Discreet, legally grounded action to protect and restore your reputation online. We act for individuals and businesses against harmful content, false allegations, harassment and privacy intrusion, on UK and international platforms.
Rapid, Discreet and Legally Grounded
With over two decades of experience in digital and media law, we understand how to navigate complex, fast-moving online situations, for individuals and businesses, locally and internationally.
Discretion Throughout
Reputation matters are sensitive by nature. We handle every instruction confidentially and avoid steps that could draw more attention to the material.
The Right Legal Tool
Defamation, privacy, data protection, harassment and copyright each offer different remedies. We choose the route that fits the facts, rather than relying on a single template.
Our Reputation Services
Each area has its own dedicated page with full detail on how we can help.
Online Content Removal
Removing defamatory, unlawful or outdated content from search engines, websites, social platforms and databases, whether hosted on UK or international domains.
Online Defamation
Representation in defamation and malicious falsehood matters involving social media, blogs, forums, review sites and digital publications, whether you are the subject of a false allegation or need advice before publishing.
- Letters of claim and pre-action correspondence
- False reviews and online allegations
- Claims against publishers, authors and website operators
- Pre-publication advice and defending claims
Online Harassment
Support for clients facing sustained digital abuse, cyberbullying, doxxing or stalking. We secure evidence, advise on reporting and pursue civil or criminal remedies to protect your safety and dignity.
- Evidence capture and preservation
- Cease and desist letters
- Injunctions under the Protection from Harassment Act 1997
- Identifying anonymous accounts
The Legal Tools We Use
Defamation & Malicious Falsehood
Claims under the Defamation Act 2013 where a statement has caused, or is likely to cause, serious harm, and malicious falsehood claims for false statements causing financial loss.
Privacy & Confidentiality
Misuse of private information and breach of confidence, including intimate content, personal details and information shared in confidence.
Data Protection & De-indexing
Erasure and de-listing requests under UK GDPR and the right to be forgotten, directed at publishers, platforms and search engines.
Harassment
Civil injunctions and damages under the Protection from Harassment Act 1997, and support with criminal reporting where appropriate.
Copyright & Platform Rules
Takedown notices for images and content used without permission, and escalation under platform terms and the Online Safety Act 2023.
Disclosure Orders
Norwich Pharmacal applications requiring platforms or website operators to disclose information identifying anonymous wrongdoers.
Our Approach
Five Stages
- 01 · AssessReview the content, evidence, chronology, publication history and continuing impact
- 02 · StrategyIdentify the strongest legal, editorial, regulatory and commercial route
- 03 · EngageCorrespond with publishers, platforms, legal teams and search engines
- 04 · EscalateConsider regulatory, search-engine or court action where proportionate
- 05 · ResolvePursue the most realistic outcome: removal, correction, anonymisation or reduced visibility
De-indexing Is Not the Same as Removal
De-indexing can stop a URL appearing in particular search results, but the page may stay live and shareable. Removal at source deals with the material where it is hosted.
We assess whether source removal, de-indexing or a coordinated strategy using both is the right approach for your matter.
Cross-Border Reputation Protection
Most major platforms and search engines are based outside the UK, and harmful content often crosses borders. We act for clients in the UK and internationally.
Global Platforms
Formal escalation to Instagram, Facebook, YouTube, TikTok, X, Reddit, Google and Bing, beyond standard reporting tools.
Jurisdiction Strategy
Assessing where a claim can be brought and enforced, and whether English law gives you a route against an overseas publisher.
Local Counsel Where Needed
Where action is needed under another country's law, we identify it early and coordinate with local counsel.
Digital and Media Law Since 1999
Internet Lawyer Since 1999
Over 25 years in internet, media and IP law
Published Author
A Practical Guide to Business, Law & the Internet (Kogan Page, 2002)
Podcast Guest
Using NDAs to protect creativity, commerce and privacy (WorkWise for Screen)
SRA Regulated
Authorised and regulated by the Solicitors Regulation Authority (No. 827265)
Further Reading
Reporting & Removal Processes
Reputation Law Questions
Can you get harmful content removed from the internet?
Often, yes, but the right route depends on what the content is, where it is hosted and who published it. Options include legal complaints to the publisher or website operator, platform reporting and escalation, data protection requests, search engine de-indexing and, where necessary, court action. We assess which route is most likely to work before taking action.
What is the difference between removal and de-indexing?
Removal takes the content down at source, from the website or platform where it is hosted. De-indexing stops a URL appearing in search results, usually for searches of your name, but the page itself can remain live and shareable. The two can be used separately or together.
When is an online post defamatory under English law?
A statement is defamatory if it would lower you in the estimation of right-thinking people, and under section 1 of the Defamation Act 2013 it must have caused, or be likely to cause, serious harm to your reputation. For a business trading for profit, serious harm means serious financial loss. Defences include truth, honest opinion and publication on a matter of public interest.
How long do I have to bring a defamation claim?
In England and Wales, a defamation or malicious falsehood claim must usually be issued within one year of publication. Under the single publication rule in the Defamation Act 2013, the time limit generally runs from the first publication, so act promptly.
Can you identify an anonymous poster?
Sometimes. Where a platform or website operator holds information that could identify the person responsible, the court can order disclosure through a Norwich Pharmacal order. Platforms may also disclose information voluntarily in limited circumstances.
Can old news articles about a criminal conviction be removed?
It depends on the facts, including whether the conviction is spent under the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974, the accuracy of the reporting and the continuing public interest. In NT1 and NT2 v Google [2018] EWHC 799 (QB), the High Court ordered de-listing for one claimant but not the other, which shows how fact-sensitive these requests are.
What can I do about online harassment or doxxing?
Civil remedies include injunctions and damages under the Protection from Harassment Act 1997, together with claims for misuse of private information and data protection breaches. Platforms also have duties under the Online Safety Act 2023, and sharing or threatening to share intimate images without consent is a criminal offence.
Do you act for businesses as well as individuals?
Yes. We act for individuals, executives, creators, brands and businesses facing false reviews, online allegations, impersonation, harassment and publication disputes, in the UK and internationally.
Protect Your Name, Your Business and Your Peace of Mind
Use the form below or contact us directly. Every enquiry is treated in strict confidence.
- Links to the content, and screenshots with dates
- Where it appears: website, platform or search results
- Who you believe is responsible, if known
- When it was first published and any steps already taken
Please do not delete messages or posts you may need as evidence.
Telephone: +44 (0)20 7305 7491
Email: peter@pailsolicitors.co.uk
23 Berkeley Square, Mayfair, London W1J 6HE
Scope and fees are agreed in advance before any work begins.