Brett Wilson LLP

Media & Communications Law

Senior Associate (solicitor)

Adham works in the firm’s media and communications law department, specialising in defamation, privacy and harassment law, including urgent pre-publication work for individuals and businesses who have been approached for comment by the press.

Adham is an accomplished tactician, always keeping his clients’ objectives in mind and willing to consider creative and non-traditional strategies to achieve those outcomes.  In his pre-publication work, Adham has a good track record of preventing publication or broadcast of the most serious defamatory allegations, and where that is not possible, ensuring that his clients’ positions are properly reflected and their interests protected.

Following publications, Adham has a history of resolving defamation and privacy disputes amicably and at an early stage, minimising the disruption, costs, and stresses of High Court litigation felt by his clients.  Where ‘going the distance’ is unavoidable, Adham is a tough and thorough litigator who puts his clients’ cases robustly.

Adham’s recent work highlights include:-

Pre-publication work

Deterring broadcast of all defamatory allegations about an aesthetics clinic on terrestrial television. Deterring publication of serious and false allegations of dishonesty and breaches of regulatory obligations of a professional individual. Deterring the publication of the worst allegations threatened to be published about a private health clinic. Deterring the publication of the most serious allegations of criminality threatened to be published about a distribution company. Consulting with clients’ crisis management/PR representatives to design strategies for dealing with urgent press enquiries out of hours.

 Defamation

Securing a favourable settlement for a prominent academic in a libel dispute with a more senior colleague at a prestigious British university. Resolving a dispute between competing businesses over false and defamatory allegations made in targeted advertising. Successfully deterring defamation litigation against a client by his former employer for statements made to his former colleagues following dismissal. Securing a favourable settlement and Statement in Open Court against British Mensa on behalf of a former director. Securing a comprehensive retraction and apology for an insurance brokerage falsely alleged to have lost its accreditation from a prominent underwriter in an email to its most important clients. Securing the dismissal of a claim with 100% costs for a rape victim who had named their abuser as part of the #MeToo movement. Negotiating a favourable settlement for a local business owner falsely accused of sexually assaulting an employee. Negotiating a favourable settlement for a client who was threatened with defamation proceedings after posting a negative review about her landlord. Securing a favourable settlement for a pilot who had been falsely accused of fraud and domestic violence. Securing a favourable settlement, including a retraction and apology, for his client who had been falsely accused of harassment. Representing a federation of household-name organisations in successfully avoiding a libel claim threatened against it by a food delivery company.   Representing a prominent radio DJ in defamation actions. Successfully deterring defamation litigation for a client who had left negative and (allegedly) defamatory reviews concerning a builder. Avoiding further publication of a false allegation that a client had sexually assaulted his tennis partner, made to other members of their club.

Privacy

Assisting several OnlyFans publishers to remove leaked intimate images and videos from search results. Assisting individuals whose intimate images have been leaked online and become associated with their names in search results, to promptly and efficiently have those images removed. Assisting in the obtaining of an injunction against a blackmailer, including bringing contempt of court proceedings and an application for committal. Successfully exercising various clients’ ‘right to erasure’ under UK GDPR to have adverse Google search results delisted from searches for their names. Advising two clients on blackmail matters concerning intimate relationships. Successfully implementing a 'clean up' strategy for a celebrity client who wanted to have historic information and images removed from the public domain.

Harassment

Acting for an estate agents to protect its staff from harassment by the tenants of a property it managed. Acting for a company in protecting its employees from harassment by a disgruntled customer. Securing a favourable settlement, including a payment of costs, for his client who was being harassed by a former business acquaintance. Preventing further harassment of a business owner being harassed by her former partner. Securing a favourable settlement, and avoiding criminal proceedings, for a client accused of stalking and harassing an acquaintance.

Other work

Prior to joining Brett Wilson, Adham worked at IP boutique McDaniels Law., where he represented clients including the successful Claimant in both Dowman Imports Limited v 2 Toobz Limited [2020] EWHC 291 (Comm) and in Cormeton Fire Protection Limited v Cormeton Electronics Limited & John Aitchison [2021] EWHC 11 (IPEC).

Adham will occasionally act for clients in intellectual property or general civil disputes with a reputational component.  Recent highlights include:-

Representing the successful defendants in Costa v DissociaDID Limited & Anr [2022] EWHC 1934 (IPEC), a claim for infringement of copyright and a counterclaim for tortious interference and breach of contract. Negotiating a favourable settlement of a trade mark infringement matter pre-action concerning the name of a licensed venue in central London. Advised a tech start up on copyright infringement issues concerning videos published on YouTube. Successfully securing the striking out of a retaliatory money claim brought against a husband and wife who had previously threatened to bring their own defamation proceedings. Asserting a client’s copyright in their self-taken intimate images which had been published by third parties for profit.