The Legal 500

Work Department

Privacy and reputation protection; commercial litigation; dispute resolution; music; sport.

Position

John Kelly is a litigator specialising in reputation management for corporate organisations as well as for brands and high-profile individuals in the entertainment and sports world. He has represented Oscar-winning actress Nicole Kidman, recording artist Madonna, music manager and TV personality Sharon Osbourne, footballer Andriy Shevchenko and the bank Northern Rock. John has extensive experience in defamation, breach of confidence, privacy, intellectual property and commercial litigation. He heads the firms’ corporate reputation division advising corporate clients on brand and reputation protection strategies. John also advises British television companies on broadcast regulatory matters. His work with high-profile individuals includes obtaining an injunction for Madonna against the ‘Mail on Sunday’ following the unlawful publication of her wedding photographs in breach of copyright and privacy, acting for Sharon Osbourne in her successful defamation case against the ‘Sun’ newspaper, successfully representing Australian actress Nicole Kidman in her defamation claim against the ‘Mail on Sunday’, representing BBC television presenter Jonathan Ross, Hollywood actress Angelina Jolie and British television presenter Noel Edmonds. He has also obtained a number of high-profile injunctions to protect the privacy of clients. including the landmark X & Y v Person(s) Unknown case.John also leads the firm’s music division and has recently obtained an apology for Ozzy Osbourne from the ‘Daily Star’. He has extensive music industry expertise, working as the legal and business affairs manager for Mushroom Records in the late 1990s with artists such as Kylie Minogue, Peter Andre, NSync, Depeche Mode and Britney Spears. He has also provided advice to well-known bands on contractual and intellectual property matters, including the recovery of unpaid royalties. In sport, John has represented sports agents, players and clubs, and has advised a number of premiership and international football clubs. He provides sports stars with advice on contract disputes, sponsorship deals as well as on general media protection matters, and is chairing Schillings annual forum in protecting reputations in sports conference in 2009.

Career

Career: Trained at Schillings; qualified 1994; media litigation division Schillings 1994-97; in-house counsel Mushroom Records 1998-99; media department Kelly & Co Lawyers, Australia 1999-2004; partner 2002; partner Schillings 2004. Admitted as a barrister and solicitor in South Australia.

Member

Member: Law Society; International Association of Entertainment Lawyers; British Association for Sport and Law; Law Society of South Australia.

Practice Areas

Defamation and privacy; Media and entertainment; Sport