Defamation

Defamation and reputational harm pose significant risks to both businesses and individuals. These issues can arise in relation to an organisation’s brand, employees, and members of the public. The prevalence of social media and the instant access to all forms of media, news and information, has only exacerbated these risks, providing multiple forums and platforms for publication of potentially harmful material. Information, whether accurate or not, can be rapidly disseminated across multiple platforms, increasing the potential for reputational damage. Managing defamation risks requires a proactive approach that includes legal awareness, media strategy, and reputational monitoring.

HWLE is recognised as one of the leading defamation practices in Australia. Our firm acts for several major media organisations including television and radio networks, newspapers and book publishers. We are also prominent in the film, music and digital entertainment industries.

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How we can assist

Our team has handled many of the landmark defamation matters in Australia including matters that have gone to the High Court. We provide media and defamation training for many of our clients and assist in managing reputational risks and formulating media strategies.

We provide pre and post publication advice and assist clients with a broad range of matters including defamation, contempt, intellectual property, advice on broadcasting and publishing codes, responses to regulatory complaints including to ACMA and advertising issues. Our defamation lawyers regularly appear in non-publication and suppression hearings and in other media applications.

Our team are experts in crisis management, risk assessment and strategic communications by helping clients navigate sensitive public issues with care and legal precision. We assess and manage defamation and reputational risks, helping clients avoid making or being subject to defamatory statements. Our team regularly assist clients with takedown requests for defamatory material from websites, social media and search engines.

We are often consulted by Commonwealth and State governments regarding defamation and other media law reforms (such as defamation, contempt and suppressions laws) and have represented clients in lobbying on legislation and reform affecting the media.

Defamation

Our experience

  • Google Acting in defamation proceedings in various jurisdictions.
  • News Limited Acting in defamation proceedings in various jurisdictions.
  • Australian television and radio networks and newspapers Acting in defamation proceedings in various jurisdictions.
  • Australian television networks and newspapers Acting in contempt and suppression hearings.
  • Numerous high-profile individuals and politicians Acting in defamation proceedings in various jurisdictions.
  • Board members and business leaders Acting in defamation proceedings and reputational risk matters.
  • ASIC and other national regulators Acting in numerous defamation proceedings in various jurisdictions.
  • Book publishers Providing pre and post publication advice.
  • Media organisations Responding to Press Council, Broadcasting Code and advertising complaints.
  • Media organisations Responding to ACMA investigations and proceedings.
  • Major Australian universities Acting in various defamation claims and proceedings.
  • Insurers Acting in litigated and unlitigated defamation claims.