Defamation

Your reputation — personal or professional — is one of your most valuable assets. When false statements threaten to damage it, you need specialist defamation legal advice quickly. Grant Saw are leading defamation solicitors in London, acting for both claimants and defendants across libel, slander, online defamation and business reputation claims throughout England and Wales.

No win no fee defamation claims 

We understand that the prospect of legal costs can be a significant barrier to pursuing a defamation claim, particularly when you are already dealing with the stress of reputational damage. In circumstances where we consider your claim has a good prospect of success and the potential defendant has the means to satisfy a judgment for damages and a costs award, we are happy to consider acting on a no win no fee basis. 

We will conduct a thorough cost and benefit analysis with you at the outset, so you understand your options and the realistic risks before committing to any course of action. If no win no fee is not appropriate for your circumstances, we can offer an initial one-hour consultation at a fixed fee of £370 plus VAT. 

What is defamation? 

A defamatory statement is one that would lower you in the estimation of a reasonable member of society — damaging your reputation, standing or character. There are two forms: 

Libel — defamation in written or recorded form, including emails, letters, newspaper articles, online reviews and social media posts. Because written content can spread rapidly and persist online, libel claims often require swift action to limit the damage. 

Slander — defamation in spoken form. Slander claims can be more complex to evidence but are no less serious when reputational damage is real and demonstrable. If you are considering taking legal action for slander, our slander solicitors can advise on the evidence you will need to gather and the prospects of a successful claim. 

Both libel and slander can form the basis of a defamation claim. Our solicitors advise on both, as well as related claims including malicious falsehood and misuse of private information. 

What are the grounds for a defamation claim? 

To bring a successful defamation claim you will generally need to establish that: 

• A statement was made about you, whether spoken, written or published online
• The statement was communicated to at least one other person
• The statement caused, or is likely to cause, serious harm to your reputation 

The Defamation Act 2013 introduced the serious harm threshold as a requirement before legal proceedings can be brought. For bodies that trade for profit, the Act requires proof of serious financial loss, or that serious financial loss is likely to result. 

The courts have taken a common-sense approach to assessing serious harm. The gravity of the allegation and the scale of its publication are both relevant — a damaging accusation shared widely on social media will generally clear the threshold more readily than the same allegation made privately to a single person. Our solicitors will assess whether your situation meets the serious harm threshold as part of your initial consultation, giving you a clear view of your prospects. 

Defamation of character — personal reputation claims 

Defamation of character claims arise when statements damage how you are perceived by others in your personal or professional life. These claims can arise from social media posts, online reviews, comments made in the workplace, statements to professional bodies, or coverage in the press. 

We act for individuals whose reputation has been damaged by false allegations, whether the statement was made publicly to thousands of people or privately to a small audience where that audience is significant to your standing. 

Business defamation — protecting your commercial reputation 

Defamatory statements about a business can cause serious financial harm — deterring clients, damaging supplier relationships and undermining staff confidence. Whether the statement appeared in a competitor's communications, in online reviews, in trade press or on social media, our solicitors can advise on the most effective response. 

For business defamation claims, the serious harm test requires evidence of actual or likely serious financial loss. Our team will work with you to document the commercial impact and build the strongest possible case. We also advise businesses facing defamation claims brought against them — providing robust defence strategies where allegations are unfounded. 

Online defamation and social media 

Online and social media defamation has become one of the most common forms of reputation damage we advise on. Defamatory content can spread rapidly across platforms, making swift action essential. 

We advise on urgent content removal, engagement with platform operators, and where necessary full legal proceedings against the author, publisher or both. The same legal principles that apply to libel apply to online content — the digital format does not limit your right to protect your reputation. Whether the statement was made on social media, in an online review, in a forum post or in a published article, we can help. 

What defences might be raised against your claim? 

Understanding the defences available to the person who made the statement is essential to assessing the strength of your claim. The main defences under English defamation law are: 

Truth — if the defendant can prove the statement is substantially true, your claim will not succeed regardless of the damage caused. This is why early evidence gathering is critical to establishing falsity. 

Honest opinion — protects genuine expressions of opinion rather than statements of fact, provided the opinion is based on facts that existed at the time and could be held by an honest person. 

Qualified privilege — where the defendant had a duty or interest in making the statement and the recipient had a corresponding interest in receiving it. This arises frequently in workplace complaints, employer references and reports to professional bodies. Such complaints often attract the protection of qualified privilege and will defeat a defamation claim unless you can demonstrate that the person was acting maliciously. This defence frequently arises in partnership disputes and employment contexts. 

Absolute privilege — statements made in court proceedings or to the police cannot form the basis of a defamation claim, regardless of their content or how damaging they may be. 

Publication on a matter of public interest — where the defendant reasonably believed the statement was in the public interest. Courts consider all circumstances of the publication in assessing this defence. 

Our solicitors will assess which defences are likely to be raised and advise on how to counter them effectively as part of your overall strategy. 

What compensation can you claim for defamation? 

Successful defamation claimants can seek: 

• General damages for injury to reputation and hurt feelings
• Special damages for specific, quantifiable financial losses caused by the defamatory statement
• Injunctive relief — a court order requiring removal of the defamatory content and preventing further publication
• A published apology or correction — often as valuable as financial compensation in restoring reputation 

The amount of compensation awarded varies significantly depending on the severity of the statement, the scale of its publication and the demonstrable impact on the claimant. Our solicitors will give you a realistic assessment of the likely range in your specific circumstances. 

Our defamation services 

We act for both claimants and defendants across the full range of defamation matters: 

• Pre-publication advice to prevent defamatory content going live
• Urgent cease and desist letters demanding removal of defamatory material and preventing further publication
• Formal letters before action and detailed letters of response to false allegations
• Compensation claims for reputational damage and financial loss
• Defence against unfounded defamation claims brought against you
• Malicious falsehood claims where false statements have caused financial loss
• Harassment Act violations involving repeated defamatory communications
• Misuse of private information and data protection claims 

We also advise on alternative dispute resolution where a faster, more cost-effective resolution is achievable without court proceedings. While we are experienced in High Court defamation litigation, we recognise that resolving a dispute quickly and discreetly is often the priority — and we will always advise on the most appropriate route for your circumstances. 

Why choose Grant Saw's defamation solicitors? 

Our defamation team sits within Grant Saw's broader litigation practice, giving clients access to specialist expertise across defamation, privacy, misuse of private information and related disputes — all under one roof. 

We act quickly. When reputation is under attack, time matters. We can move from initial instruction to cease and desist letter within 24 hours where circumstances require it. 

We are transparent about costs from day one — including the circumstances in which we will consider no win no fee, fixed-fee consultation options and ongoing cost estimates as your matter progresses. 

We work with clients across England and Wales, with appointments available remotely or in person at our offices in Greenwich and Blackheath. 

For expert defamation legal advice, contact our team today. Email us or contact our team on 020 8858 6971.