Reputation & Privacy news

Like almost all social media platforms, Twitter was originally designed with a purely social purpose. By posting status updates, users could communicate, keep in touch with distant friends and share what they had been getting up to. 15 years later, the platform is almost entirely unrecognisable. With over 300 million users, spanning journalists, world leaders and business magnates, Twitter has become one of the most important global disseminators of information. As traditional media... Read More

Reputation and privacy is a very complex field and so it is essential to understand the different meanings, and the differences, between the key terms involved. Defamation While there is no statutory definition of defamation, it is widely defined as the publication of an untrue statement, which refers to a person, to a third party which is either harmful, or likely to be harmful, to the reputation of that person. Defamation takes two forms: libel and slander. Whether... Read More

Over the last months, the world has been enraptured by one of the most revelatory and intimate reputation battles of the past decade, as Johnny Depp failed in his libel case against the Sun newspaper. With countless deeply personal details emanating from the widely-covered trial, the media coverage on both sides of the Atlantic was immense. But, as we have noted before, the story does not end here. Mr Depp is suing Ms Heard for defamation in a $50m claim in the US. In... Read More

Speaking to LBC’s Jim Diamond on Monday, Alex McCready, Head of Reputation & Privacy at Vardags, discussed the verdict in Johnny Depp’s case against the Sun newspaper. Labelling the decision a “damning indictment against Mr Depp”, Alex went on to explain the resulting effect on his reputation, his potential for appeal and what effect this case may have on the way the media reports in the future.  You can listen to the full interview here from... Read More

Since its foundation in 2018, Vardags’ Reputation & Privacy team has quickly established a name for itself in the reputation management field. Now, this success has been recognised by the Legal 500, who have ranked the team for the first time. Inclusion by the Legal 500 rounds off an exciting year for the Reputation & Privacy team, who were also shortlisted for the Citywealth Magic Circle Awards ‘Reputation Management Law Firm of the Year’. With a... Read More

The break-down of a relationship is seldom easy. It is an extremely distressing time and emotions run high. In some cases, ex’s can engage in unacceptable behaviour, whether this be through harassment, hacking or false allegations of misconduct. In such a scenario, it is essential that you are able to respond appropriately. What to do if your ex is harassing you People react to a break up in odd and varied ways and most people look back feeling slightly... Read More

While Dan Brown’s novels are brimming with dramatic twists and subterfuge, the author’s personal life has always seemed more mundane. Now, it seems, life may be more closely imitating art. On Monday 29 June, Blythe Brown, the ex-wife of The Da Vinci Code author, filed a lawsuit at Rockingham superior court in New Hampshire, accusing her former husband of “unlawful and egregious conduct” while they were married. The claim centres around a financial affidavit,... Read More

With ever increasing parts of our lives being recorded, whether through photographs, videos or social media posts, many high profile figures have had to face up to moments they wish had been forgotten. Whatever your views on whether individual’s past actions should be judged by today’s standards, we have to recognise that our past behaviour, rightly or wrongly, can come back to haunt us. The proliferation of social media has made this issue even more widespread. With... Read More

Suddenly finding yourself in the media spotlight can be extremely distressing. For high profile individuals, how you manage this attention is vital. If you find yourself in such a situation, these seven tips will help you to navigate this new challenge and ensure your reputation is protected. 1. Door-stepping: Know your rights Remember, you do not have to answer the door. Journalists will know that there are guidelines to follow and that door stepping should be a last... Read More