We help clients in a highly competitive and fast-changing media environment tackle critical legal challenges and capitalise on opportunities, while protecting and balancing strategic, commercial and editorial interests.
As one of Australia’s leading media practices, we provide expert advice on all issues relating to pre-publication and pre-broadcast matters, together with representing media defendants in relation to resulting defamation, contempt, copyright, consumer law claims and litigation. We act for industry-leading media platforms, titles and networks as well as global tech leaders.
We have extensive experience in:
- pre-publication advice
- defamation complaints management, defence advice and representation
- crisis management, strategy and messaging
- copyright advice and disputes
- privacy
- contempt and statutory offences
- opposition to injunctions and suppression applications
- intellectual property protection and disputes
- advising on the Broadcasting Services Act and other media legislation and regulations
- Press Council, Ad Standards, ACCC and ACMA complaints and processes
- licensing and distribution agreements
- clearance of third-party and underlying rights
- contracts for performance rights, ancillary and merchandising rights
- strategic assistance in representation to law reform bodies, regulators and parliamentary committees.
Work highlights
Are Media
High-profile dispute matters and providing daily pre-publication advice.
Seven Network
Defamation defence matters, daily pre-publication advice, submissions in response to Court Suppression Orders and take down orders.
Google Australia Pty Limited, Google LLC (US), YouTube, LLC (US)
Defamation advice and defence work, including in the landmark High Court decision of Defteros v Google, which established a level of search liability immunity in Australian law.
Microsoft Corporation (US), Microsoft Australia Pty Limited
Defamation defence representation in Supreme Court proceedings.
Yahoo Australia Pty Limited
Pre-publication advice and representation in dispute work.
Human Rights Law Centre
High Court proceedings involving the first consideration of the scope of statutory protections for Australian whistleblowers at an appellate court level.
