Jake specialises in defamation, privacy, harassment and data protection. He advises both claimants and defendants and prides himself on achieving quick, cost-effective resolutions. Jake is recognised as a “Leading Junior for Defamation and Privacy” in Legal 500. Jake has acted for household names, high-net-worth individuals, companies and charities. He uses his extensive prior experience in-house at solicitors' firms and within newsrooms to take cases from inception through to resolution.
Jake completed pupillage with top media law Chambers 5RB and has worked in some of the most pre-eminent media law firms (including Harbottle & Lewis and Carter-Ruck). He has since advised most major British media outlets, including The BBC, The Times, The Sun and The Mirror. Jake is also an NCTJ-accredited journalist. He is direct access qualified, an accredited mediator and certified to conduct litigation. Prior to specialising in media law, Jake took on a wide range of criminal and common law civil work whilst at Pump Court Chambers.
Media & Communications
Jake regularly advises individuals and companies on media law claims. In addition to his drafting and advocacy work, because of his in-house experience Jake is often instructed to engage in legal correspondence.
Jake also offers pre-publication 'libel reading' advice for national newspapers, Hollywood scriptwriters, the world’s foremost book publishers and multinational broadcasters. Where a resolution is sought outside of litigation, Jake has experience in negotiation and mediation.
Defamation
Jake regularly acts in claims for libel and slander. He handles a wide variety of disputes and advises both those whose reputation has been harmed and publishers. From broadsheet newspapers to posts on social media and emails, Jake has dealt with every conceivable hurdle a defamation claim might face.
He prides himself on achieving good, quick results at minimal cost to the client. Jake often achieves early disposition of claims by way of settlement or strike out, as in Parkes v Hall & Earnshaw [2023] 4 WLUK 24; [2021] 10 WLUK 316, in which the client obtained around half a million pounds in damages and costs.
Misuse of Private Information & Breach of Confidence
With experience of representing Royal Families and household names at Harbottle & Lewis when he was in-house, as well as an extended secondment in the BBC litigation department and advising the Times, The Sun and the Mirror as a night lawyer, Jake knows the key considerations in assessing and running privacy claims.
Data Protection
Jake’s data protection practice spans from right to be forgotten requests for individuals to responding to Subject Access Requests for organisations.
Harassment
With experience in criminal law during his time at Pump Court Chambers, Jake is well placed to spot all aspects of civil harassment claims. For example, acting Pro Bono alongside Baker & McKenzie, he acted for an ex-wife whose ex-husband brought a vexatious harassment claim against her. She obtained strike out of the claim with permission to bring a counterclaim. The Judge awarded indemnity costs against the Claimant, including a number of Pro Bono costs orders.
Internet Takedowns
Jake has extensive experience of getting unlawful content taken down from the internet. This area requires fast action and an in-depth knowledge of the most effective mechanisms for removing content. Whether something has been uploaded to Youtube in infringement of copyright, or is defamatory, or whether something private or confidential has appeared on a mainstream news website, Jake has advised both subjects and publishers on such issues.
Case Profile
Vince v Bailey – [Ongoing] For the Defendant in a defamation claim brought in relation to words spoken by Lord Bailey on GB News about the Claimant’s comments in a Radio Times interview.
Mullen v Lyles – [Ongoing] For the Claimant in a defamation and misuse of private information claim, currently subject to appeal.
University of Southampton v Lorenz – For the Defendant in a data protection claim brought by the University against its former employee.
Simon Parkes v Hall & Earnshaw: [2023] EWHC 794 (KB) – For the Claimant in an ongoing libel, harassment, privacy and data protection claim. Representation at a directions hearing and a strike out application, at both of which the Claimant was awarded costs and at the latter of which he obtained “powerful undertakings” preventing publication of further statements about him.
Anonymous v BT – Obtained an offer of settlement from BT on behalf of a data breach by BT.
Situation Publishing Limited & Ors v Aria Taheri & Ors – Statement in Open Court for the Defendant, having taken over sole carriage of the case from a QC and negotiated a settlement with the Managing Partner of Simons Muirhead Burton (Direct Access).
Anonymous v Nwakanma [2021] EWHC 1011 (QB) [2021] 4 WLUK 230 – Advising the Defendant on his successful truth defence in a libel trial.
Day v Chivers [2020] EWHC 3522 (QB) [2020] 12 WLUK 357 – For the Claimant in a libel trial, which was heard ad hoc as a meaning hearing. The Claimant won on meaning and was awarded costs of the hearing.
Ivanchev v Velli [2020] EWHC 1917 (QB), [2020] 7 WLUK 222 – Represented the Claimant in a Default Judgment hearing on a libel, harassment, privacy and data protection claim.
Peterside v Agyemang – Represented the Defendant in (1) successful strike out of the Claimant’s entire harassment claim; and (2) dismissal of the Claimant’s subsequent relief from sanction application. The Defendant was awarded costs for both hearings, including a Pro Bono Costs award to be paid to the Access to Justice Foundation (Pro Bono). Also appeared at the Permission to Appeal hearing, at which permission was refused.
Andrew Mills v Jolyon Maugham QC – Obtained removal of a defamatory Tweet and a public clarification without the need to issue of proceedings.
Rafero Mutowo v University of Southampton – Obtained a favourable settlement including damages and costs for breach of the prospective Claimant’s data protection rights.
For more information on Direct Access, Defamation Law and working with our team visit our blog.
