About
Defenders of your rights to privacy, reputation and security

Who we are

We are on a mission to establish the true narrative.

We all have a right to privacy – it’s a universal human right enshrined in law. In a world where fiction can appear as fact, we fight passionately against breaches of your privacy, attacks on your reputation and threats to your security. It’s what makes us tick.

We believe the law is the best and fairest tool available to establish truth. But we also know it can require an army of skills to put things right when crisis hits. That’s why we are the only business in the world to deploy – under one roof – media experts, data protection lawyers, litigators, experts from military intelligence, former investigative journalists, international investigators, cyber-security specialists, digital forensic experts and senior people from the military, police and government.

Our values

We believe that no one should have false information published about them or be ridiculed because of misuse of their private information.

We have worked at the heart of defamation and privacy law over the last four decades. Today the all-seeing gaze of commercial Big Brother and prevalence of social media makes our right to privacy more important than ever. We are passionate about restoring the rights of the individual.  

We litigate brilliantly – our intelligence and digital expertise helps us ‘win’ before we go to Court; uncovering and securing evidence, protecting you from ‘trial by media’, analysing your opponents and defending against dirty tricks. We anticipate and manage stakeholders, especially the media and regulators, like no other business, helping you establish your true narrative amid a sea of lies. 

Our pro bono helps us put something back into society.

How we’re different

  1. We’re more responsive – Clients can contact us anytime, wherever they are in the world.
  2. We’re more powerful – The only business in the world with in-house intelligence experts, investigators, cyber specialists, risk consultants, lawyers and top people from the military and government.
  3. We’re ethical and principled – As a regulated law firm, we apply evidential standards.
  4. We’re faster – We provide the quickest route from problem to solution because we work as one team.
  5. We’re the right fit – We work closely with our clients to be their best advocate because their challenges demand expert knowledge of their worlds.
  6. We’re future-focused – We advise you on how to identify issues and stop a crisis before it blows up.
  7. We’re experienced – We’ve done this work successfully over four decades.
Success Stories
Game changing since 1984

Rare summary judgment win in high-profile privacy case

Schillings secured a summary judgment against Associated Newspapers Limited – a rare achievement for a privacy case. The Court established that Associated had misused the privacy, and infringed copyright of our client, without the matter having to go to trial. This followed the publication, without permission, of a private letter.

Rare summary judgment win in high-profile privacy case

Libel jury’s award overturned for first time in 25 years

Schillings makes history representing a media client – the first case in over 25 years in which the Court of Appeal overturns a libel jury’s award.

Libel jury’s award overturned for first time in 25 years

The decade’s biggest apology

Schillings achieves the first front page newspaper apology, on behalf of a famous American actress and model. The Daily Mail claimed our client was stopped and searched on a plane, delaying the flight by two hours. The newspaper admits none of this had happened – and apologises.

The decade’s biggest apology

Libel win in record time

Schillings secures a full front-page apology in The Daily Star within one day of appointment by a famous English singer/songwriter.

Libel win in record time

Schillings wins the first John Doe case for 200 years

Schillings makes legal history again by securing a court order against someone whose name and whereabouts are unknown. The landmark case is over a leaked unpublished book by a world-famous author – and is the first ‘John Doe’ case in the UK for 200 years.

Schillings wins the first John Doe case for 200 years

Schillings establishes Privacy Law in the UK

Schillings wins a game-changing breach of confidentiality claim against the Daily Mirror in The House of Lords. The case, which the British supermodel won, sets a precedent that effectively establishes a law of privacy in the UK for the first time.

Schillings establishes Privacy Law in the UK

FT apology first

The first front page apology on the Financial Times’ ‘Companies and Markets’ section is achieved for our client, following defamatory and damaging reporting of an employment dispute.

FT apology first

Offer of amends precedent

Schillings establishes a new precedent with offer of amends, winning a libel claim against the Daily Mail for a famous English actress.

Offer of amends precedent

Schillings establishes children’s privacy law

Schillings secures a major win for children’s privacy in the Court of Appeal. The win grants protection for the son of a world-renowned British author – and the children of other high profile parents – from intrusive photography by paparazzi, effectively establishing a new privacy law for children in the UK

Schillings establishes children’s privacy law

Record-breaking damages for defamation

Schillings secures the biggest libel win of the era, defending the famous actress and photographer against false and defamatory allegations in the Sunday People. The win awards £300,000 in damages.

Record-breaking damages for defamation
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Pro bono

We all have a right to privacy – it’s a universal human right enshrined in law. Schillings’ work often benefits the public good – and we also believe justice should not be rationed by ability to pay. We take on pro bono work where we feel we can make an impact on the rights of vulnerable people.

Freedom Fund

Helping a leader in the global movement to end modern slavery, improve their cyber & physical security resilience.

Wildlife NGOs in Malawi

Supporting wildlife NGOs to keep wildlife trafficking cases in the international spotlight.

Malawi authorities are working hard to combat organised wildlife crime, endangering elephants, rhinos, hippos and pangolin among other species. Wildlife crime not only harms the ecosystem, but also society through the invasion of crime networks and corruption. 

Traffickers are at the root of the problem, as they create a market for poaching. In 2016, Malawi was confirmed as Southern Africa’s principal transit route for wildlife traffickers. Malawi was shown its strength and resolve in fighting this. A total of 40 traffickers have so far been arrested this year in Malawi. Ten are Chinese nationals. 

Their cases are currently going through the courts. Schillings is partnering with wildlife NGOs who are campaigning to support the Malawian Government in keeping these cases in the international spotlight, to ensure justice is served, and to protect the security of their advocates.