If you are the subject of defamation (libel or slander) you may have a right to compensation and an apology. This is a complex area of law and it is very important that you engage the services of a specialist defamation solicitor. Gateley Legal NI are leading solicitors based in Belfast specialising in defamation law, reputation management and privacy law.
What do we do?
With locally-based experts working seamlessly across Ireland North and South and with colleagues across the UK, Gateley Legal NI offer a specialist offering with expert advice in all aspects of defamation and privacy law.
Why choose Gateley?
Based in Belfast, with offices in Dublin and London, our service is provided by expert solicitors, tailored for locally-based clients and international clients alike, seeking advice on:
- pre- and post-publication issues and concerns;
- concerns over social media posts and posts on review websites;
- brand management;
- breaches of data protection law and the General Data Protection Regulations (GDPR); and
- misuse of confidential information, infringement of database rights and breaches of restrictive covenants.
We have advised high-profile local and international celebrities, corporates and individual professionals on vindicating their reputation and taking steps to protect it. We have acted in some of the most high-profile cases in recent years in the Northern Ireland, Republic of Ireland, and England and Wales jurisdictions.
The distinct libel laws in Northern Ireland and Ireland compared to England and Wales (with no requirement to prove serious harm) can make Ireland (North and South) an attractive jurisdiction for a plaintiff to bring a case. Our lawyers based in Belfast are also fully qualified and experienced in litigating matters in England and Wales.
Frequently asked questions on defamation
How long do I have to bring a claim in defamation (libel or slander)?
The time limit is short in defamation, often one year. However, there are various exceptions and often there are steps that can be taken to mitigate the harm of reputational damage caused by libel or slander after the event. It is important to seek legal advice from defamation solicitors promptly to retain as many options to deal with the situation as possible.
Can I seek compensation for breach of my privacy rights/ misuse of private information?
Yes. Data protection and privacy law is a growing and evolving area of law and we are at the forefront of practice in these areas. The Data Protection Act 2008 and the GDPR provide statutory scope for seeking compensation for data protection and data privacy breaches in certain circumstances. Our expert solicitors at Gateley NI will guide you through this process and advise you of your rights. Separately, we advise many corporate organisations on the implications of data protection breaches or breaches of privacy and provide advice tailored to those organisations mitigating the effect of those breaches.
What are restrictive covenants?
Restrictive covenants are often placed in employment contracts to restrict the solicitation, by employees who subsequently move on to other employment, of key customers of a business by former employees, prevent dealings as a whole with key customers and prevent the poaching of staff members.
Restrictive covenants can be a powerful tool in protecting a business. They protect business value and can buy you valuable time when you are under threat from competition after an employee or director leaves. We have acted frequently for businesses who are exposed by employees seeking to avoid adherence to their restrictive covenants and have successfully achieved damages and injunctive relief for clients.
What is injunctive relief?
An injunction is a particular remedy obtainable in limited circumstances. An injunction application (seeking an Injunction Order) can sometimes be sought in the context of a challenge to a broadcast or publication pre-broadcast or publication. Injunctions are commonly sought in cases involving breaches of privacy and breaches of restrictive covenant.