Sustained and false allegations made online inevitably have greater detrimental consequences for your personal and professional standing than a single malicious allegation.
At Nath Solicitors we are familiar with this kind of situation, and we have helped a number of clients who have had falsehoods weaponised against them. In our experience these types of damaging online allegations are often strategically posted over a prolonged time period. The intention is to cause maximum damage to your reputation. Quick, sustained action is essential.
Client Success Story: International Executive Targeted in Coordinated Online Smear Campaign
Our client, a senior executive in a multinational firm, discovered a collection of defamatory posts made against him alongside anonymous social media threads. The posts alleged financial impropriety, regulatory violations and criminal conduct.
However, the allegations were:
- Entirely false and baseless
- Repeated across various websites, forums, and dark web locations
We took our client’s instructions and quickly established the strength of his case the threats he was facing. We then acted with urgency to protect his reputation and secure appropriate compensation and other remedies.
The Difference with Nath Solicitors
Our strategic approach to the matter involved in the following steps:
1. Immediate Evidence Preservation
We informed digital forensic experts to investigate, preserve and allocate the time of posting of all offending content before securing their prompt removal.
2. Tracing the Source
We traced the source of the damaging material through a combination of the following:
- Norwich Pharmacal Orders
- Cross-jurisdictional disclosure applications
- Collaboration with ISPS and hosting platforms
As a result of these actions, we were able to trace the origin of the campaign to a commercial rival operating behind proxy servers and overseas shell companies.
Taking Action: Injunctions and Damages
The ongoing damage to our client meant injunctive relief was crucial. We successfully applied for an urgent interim injunction from the High Court, which meant that the defendant was:
- Prohibited from publishing any further material
- Ordered to remove the existing material
- Prevented from re-publishing the material
This order was served on all platforms and search engines such as Google. Under UK law compliance by these corporations with the order was mandatory.We also issued proceedings for defamation and malicious falsehood, ultimately leading to a negotiated and confidential settlement which led to:
- Substantial damages
- An apology and retraction
- Payment of our client’s legal costs
The Effectiveness of Our Method
The Nath Solicitors approach to important cases like this is strategic, assertive, and discreet.
We are a boutique firm founded by Shubha Nath who has over 35 years of legal experience. When it comes to defamation – and online defamation in particular – Shubha has a deep understanding that:
- Reputation can be lost within seconds
- Discretion and control are as important as courtroom success
- Speed and global strategic coordination are important
We put these considerations front and centre of all our defamation work.
Our experience also extends to handling smear campaigns involving PR firms, fake accounts and cross-border matters.
Contact us
Nath Solicitors is renowned for its strategic defence of businesses and individuals facing defamation or reputation management issues. Contact us today on +44 (0) 203 983 8278 or get in touch with the firm online.