Our recent work, led by Partner Tamsin Allen, includes:

• Acting for Christopher Wylie, the Cambridge Analytica whistleblower, since Autumn 2017, advising on strategy and wider legal issues arising out of the information he has brought to light about Facebook, Cambridge Analytica, and the Brexit Referendum.
• Acting for Shahmir Sanni, who exposed criminal offences inside the designated campaign to leave the EU, Vote Leave,  guiding strategy and obtaining the evidence and statements that led to a finding by the Electoral Commission that Vote Leave breached campaign spending rules.
• Acting for Alaedeen Sicri, in a successful privacy claim against Associated Newspapers Limited (publisher of the MailOnline) in relation to the publication of his identity as a person wrongly suspected of an offence in connection with the Manchester bombing. Mr Sicri was awarded £83,000 in compensation.
• Acting for six asylum seekers in a successful Privacy and Data Protection Act claim in relation to a data breach by the Home Office. Damages were recovered at trial and were successfully defended on appeal.
• Acting for the pianist, James Rhodes, in the Supreme Court in relation to the publication of his autobiography that included an account of the abuse he suffered during childhood.
• Acting for Captive Animals Protection Society and successfully defending a copyright, contract, and breach of confidence case brought by a private zoo in relation to images obtained by undercover investigators and published online to expose conditions for animals in the zoo.

Bindmans has a strong, claimant-focused media law practice with a deserved reputation for fighting for the interests of the underdog. They represent a wide range of individuals and campaigning groups and are at the forefront of legal developments in media and information law field.

Legal 500 2022 – Media and Entertainment

Extensive media and information (including data protection) law practice with interesting/unique crossover work from criminal justice/public law work.

Legal 500 2022 – Media and Entertainment

Well-regarded claimant practice which manages reputational issues for journalists, politicians, NGOs and vulnerable people, among others. Utilises its expertise in media, crime, employment, immigration, family and police actions to advise clients on all aspects of a reputational crisis. Adept at advising on privacy, information and data protection matters.

Chambers and Partners 2020 – Defamation and Reputation Management

Human rights firm Bindmans LLP’s ‘cutting-edge’ reputation management team attracts attention for its expertise representing vulnerable individuals such as whistleblowers, among them Cambridge Analytica whistleblower Christopher Wylie. ‘Stand-out individual’ and department head Tamsin Allen takes on a wide array of matters including “right to be forgotten” issues and misuse of private information claims emanating from Worldcheck databases as well as traditional libel and defamation cases. She is also involved in matters relating to how libel law is being used to silence women making statements about abuse.

Legal 500 2019 – Reputation Management

Bindmans LLP is instructed by claimants and defendants in media cases involving defamation, privacy and data protection law. The team represents a diverse range of clients including politicians, NGOs, TV producers, national newspapers, and notable high-profile individuals working in the TV, drama, arts and music industries. The firm provides specialist whistleblower, reputation and crisis management advice where it draws on the firm’s wider experience across crime, family, employment and immigration. The team also defends individual journalists and major media organisations in criminal investigations and prosecutions. The team is regularly engaged on high-profile matters and it provided pre-publication and strategic advice to Mr Wylie, the Cambridge Analytica whistleblower, in relation to the risk of publishing confidential and defamatory information about Cambridge Analytica, SCL Elections and Facebook.

Legal 500 2019 – Media and Entertainment

Well-regarded claimant practice which manages reputational issues for journalists, politicians, NGOs and vulnerable people, among others. Utilises its expertise in media, crime, employment, immigration, family and police actions to advise clients on all aspects of a reputational crisis. Adept at advising on privacy, information and data protection matters.

Chambers and Partners 2019 – Defamation and Reputation Management

Bindmans LLP is experienced in defamation, privacy and data protection law. Head of media and information law Tamsin Allen is ‘bright and brilliant with clients’ and represents claimants and defendants in contentious media cases; highlights for Allen include representing Mr Wylie, the Cambridge Analytica whistleblower regarding risks from publishing confidential information about Cambridge Analytica, Facebook and the Vote Leave campaign; and advising film company and film-maker Franny Armstrong in relation to a forthcoming drama series about the activities of undercover police.

Legal 500 2018 – Media and Entertainment

They’re very good indeed. The work they do is of the highest standard and reasonably priced. They’re very efficient and they develop a good rapport with their clients.

Chambers and Partners 2018 – Defamation and Reputation Management

Bindmans LLP is noted for its work for claimants and defendants in defamation and reputation management matters, and it also acts for publishers in providing pre-publication, copyright and libel advice. It advised film company Undercovers on privacy, libel and copyright issues relating to the script of a drama series, and advised IMPRESS on its application for recognition as an independent press regulator by the Press Recognition Panel. Media and entertainment team head Tamsin Allen is ‘superb’ and specialises in defamation, privacy, data protection, phone hacking claims and press regulation. Kate Goold handles criminal matters for journalists and media organisations and defends high-profile individuals accused of crimes. Martin Rackstraw and Katie Wheatley are also noted.

Legal 500 2017 – Media and Entertainment (including media finance)

They are a delight to work with – extremely sharp, knowledgeable and always available, but also good at the softer skills.

Chambers and Partners 2017 – Defamation and Reputation Management

Clients of the ‘strong’ Bindmans LLP include pianist and author James Rhodes, whom Tamsin Allen defended in an injunction action to prevent the publication of his memoir. Allen ‘combines top-level legal skills with strategic insight’. Criminal lawyer Kate Goold acted for David Miranda in a case that concerned journalistic freedom.

Legal 500 2016 – Media and Entertainment (including media finance)

At Bindmans LLP, Tamsin Allen ‘combines top-level legal skills with strong strategic sense and insight’. Allen is advising on libel and privacy issues pertaining to a TV drama series on undercover policing.

Legal 500 2016 – Reputation management

Regarded for the breadth of its defamation and reputation management practice. Frequently takes on matters with strong human rights elements or accusations of criminal activity. Houses a compact but acclaimed team of specialists with experience in taking cases to the Supreme Court.

Chambers and Partners 2016 – Defamation and Reputation Management

They have a mixture of determined legal skills and emotional intelligence.

Chambers and Partners 2016 – Defamation and Reputation Management

At Bindmans LLP, Tamsin Allen is ‘an excellent and skilful media litigator who gets straight to the point and fights hard for her clients’. Katie Wheatley and Martin Rackstraw have expertise in the defence of journalists accused of crimes. Representative clients include the National Union of Journalists, Index on Censorship and Undercover TV.

Legal 500 2015 – Media and Entertainment

The media and entertainment team at Bindmans LLP is led by the ‘smart, insightful, considerate and professional’ Tamsin Allen, whose highlights included defending the pianist James Rhodes in an action brought by his ex-wife for an injunction to prevent the publication of his memoir. Allen also represented the actor Steve McFadden in a damages claim against the Metropolitan Police and News Group Newspapers for the misuse of private information.

Legal 500 2015 – Defamation and Privacy

Thank you and your brilliant team for the assistance and support provided in my libel case. I will forever maintain kind thoughts for you and your excellent team.

Les Austin

They are extremely responsive, accessible, clear and concise.

Bindmans LLP Client