Media & Defamation
Over 60 years’ specialised defamation and media law experience, successfully representing individuals and companies in defamation and reputational matters.
We are highly experienced in all aspects of defamation and media law including publications made on both electronic and traditional form media. We provide top-tier client outcomes without the big firm costs.
Led by industry veteran Robert McGirr and award-winning litigator Danielle Snell, we are well-known for our ability to balance sensitivity with tenacity in the negotiation and resolution of reputational matters.
We advise and represent individuals, professionals, high profile executives, parliamentarians, sporting and public figures and companies in all Australian jurisdictions, including the Supreme Court of Victoria, Federal Court of Australia and High Court of Australia.
We have acted against major media organisations and online forums in Australia including:
- Australian Broadcasting Corporation (“ABC”)
- Google LLC
- Meta Platforms, Inc. (“Meta”)
- News Corp Australia including publications made by The Herald Sun, The Australian, The Courier Mail, The Daily Telegraph, News24 (formally known as Sky New Australia)
- Nine Entertainment Co including publications made by A Current Affair and 60 Minutes
- Fairfax Media Publications Pty Limited including publications made by The Australian Financial Review and The Sydney Morning Herald
- The Age Company Pty Limited
- Reddit Australia Pty Limited and Reddit, Inc.
- Seven West Media Limited; and
- DMG Media Limited including publications by The Daily Mail Australia
We place our clients at the centre of everything we do. They become part of the journey, rather than removed from it.
We have a high success rate of settling cases prior to trial and navigating expectations of various stakeholders in litigation to strategise and negotiate smart commercial outcomes.
Danielle Snell has been named Reputational Risk Lawyer of the Year in Australia by Global Law Experts for 2022. This award is in direct recognition of her involvement in high stakes and high profile reputational issues, her significant depth of expertise and knowledge across all areas of media and defamation law and acclaimed reputation in the legal industry.
Expertise
Concerns Notices under the Defamation Act 2005
Privacy Act 1988
Defamation liability and damages advice, including alleged defamatory publications on the world wide web and social media forums
Available options if you are concerned that you have been defamed or if you have been threatened with a defamation action
Advice as to offer to make amends include drafting and negotiating the form of apologies and retractions
Dispute Resolution
Court Proceedings
Reputational Risk
Vilification
Drafting Confidentiality and Non-Disclosure Agreements
Contempt of Court
Pre-Publication Advice
Urgent Injunction Applications
Applications seeking suppression orders
Freedom of Information Requests
Intellectual Property
Copyright-related matters
Drafting and negotiating agreements relating to collaborations, recording and production
Social media content related matters including licensing and development
Brand Collaboration Advice and Agreements
Expertise
Major Matters
International Privacy Protection for Famous Recording Artist
Acted for famous international singer, song writer and producer in relation to publication of intimate material and threats to further publish material constituting a serious invasion of his privacy under Privacy Act 1988 (Cth) and other matters falling under the Criminal Code Act 1995. This urgent and complex matter involved publications in three languages, the use of interpreters, and a client travelling across multiple countries and time zones while on tour. We rapidly prepared legal claims, secured an urgent court hearing, and facilitated the client's evidence by video link with interpreter assistance. We successfully obtained court orders preventing the further publication of the private material, protecting the client's privacy and reputation.
Mistaken Identity as an ISIS Bride: Proceedings Against News Corp, Seven Network and The Daily Mail
Acted against News Corporation, Seven Network and The Daily Mail in serious defamation case involving use by the media of a photographic image depicting an alleged ISIS bride which was mistaken identity. This case was reported by ABC Media Watch.
Celebrity Defamation Arising from Domestic Violence Allegations
Acted for high profile celebrity against major media in relation to alleged defamatory articles published in The Age and The Sydney Morning Herald including media reporting about domestic violence in breach of the Family Violence Protection Act 2008 [Vic].
Defamatory Newspaper Allegations Against Politician
Acted for Senator and Minister in relation to defamatory article published in newspaper.
Urgent Privacy Protection in the Monash IVF Birth Mix-Up
Acted urgently to communicate to all national and international mass media outlets concerning need to preserve identification of families and individuals the subject of the Monash IVF embryo mixup which involved a women giving birth to another patients child as was widely publicised in 2025.
Defamation Claim Against The Daily Mail Following Mushroom Murder Case
Acted in a defamation matter arising out of the highly publicised mushroom murder trial securing apologies and retractions for client.
Major Matters
Major Matters
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