Hazel is a Managing Associate in the Reputation Protection and Crisis Management team. She is a solicitor-advocate and an experienced litigator in libel, privacy, data protection, harassment, confidentiality and copyright disputes, acting for clients in successful media, privacy and commercial litigation cases in The High Court and The Court of Appeal.
Often helping clients in times of crisis, she applies strategic and creative problem solving to help businesses, individuals and families to protect their privacy and reputations. This includes mitigating against adverse media coverage and intrusion both pre and post publication, online, in print and broadcast. She regularly works alongside internal and external PR and communications advisors and digital specialists for a wide range of clients, both in and out of the public spotlight.
Hazel is co-chair of Mishcon's Social Mobility Committee and a volunteer with the Royal Courts of Justice advice clinic.
Key Experience
- Acting for high-profile Claimants on media claims including against The Times, The Sunday Times, Reach plc and Associated Newspapers. Attained a Statement in Open Court against the Mail, damages, and printed apologies.
- Acting for a Defendant calling out abuse in a #meToo Twitter libel and malicious falsehood claim. Achieved successful strike out and an indemnity costs award.
- Obtaining urgent high court injunctions, including on behalf of an international logistics company against a bad leaver for breach of restrictive covenants.
- Preparing an international PLC for a Select Committee Hearing in UK Parliament.
- Acting for a House of Lords peer in response to an ethics enquiry.
- Acting for politically exposed clients against due diligence organisations (e.g. World Check).
- Acting for a leading NFT company subject to an online smear campaign.
- Advising clients following data breaches including a travel company, accountancy firm and a multinational insurance company on regulatory obligations and communications with stakeholders.
- Engaging with regulators including IPSO, Ofcom, the ICO.
- Challenging inaccurate reporting in the media including the FT, The Times, Reuters, the BBC and Channel 4 and obtaining corrections and/or removal of content.
- Successful GDPR and copyright de-listing and take-down requests including to Google, YouTube, Meta and Twitter.
Career History
Managing Associate, Mishcon de Reya LLP
Associate, Mishcon de Reya LLP
Associate, Schillings
Solicitor, Schillings
Newly Qualified Solicitor, Osborne Clarke
Trainee solicitor, Osborne Clarke
Bristol Law School, LLB Law