Harassment

Barristers at Matrix have in depth knowledge and experience of all areas relating to harassment. They have acted in all the various types of cases in which harassment can arise and have been involved in some of the leading cases.

Types of Harassment

The types of cases Matrix barristers have worked on include the following:

Harassment via media publications (e.g. Trimingham v Associated Newspapers  [2012] EWHC 1296 (QB), [2012] 4 All E.R. 717 and Stunt v Associated Newspapers [2018] EWCA Civ 1780, [2018] 1 WLR 6060)
Online harassment (e.g. Suttle v Walker [2019] EWHC 396 (QB), Fox v Wiggins  [2019] EWHC 2713 (QB))
Blackmail and harassment claims (eg SKA & Anor v CRH & Ors [2012] EWHC 2236 (QB))
Physical stalking (e.g. Foskett v Ezeugo [2017] EWHC 2292 (QB), [2017] EWHC 3749 (QB), [2018] EWHC 3694 (QB))
Surveillance (e.g. Gerrard & Anor v Eurasian Natural Resources Corporation Ltd & Anor [2020] EWHC 3241 (QB), [2021] E.M.L.R. 8)
Campaign of harassment involving street protests and stickers (Hourani v Thomson [2017] EWHC 173 (QB), [2017] 1 W.L.R. 933)
Criminal Harassment (e.g. Lau v. DPP [2000] 1 FLR 799)
Committal proceedings arising out of harassment (e.g. Foskett v Ezeugo [2018] EWHC 3694 (QB))
Representative harassment actions (e.g. The Law Society v Kordowski [2011] EWHC 3185 (QB), [2014] E.M.L.R. 2)

Strategic expert advice for Claimants and Defendants

Our barristers provide urgent expert advice to Claimants on tactics and the most appropriate avenue to prevent the ongoing harassment. They can also provide strategic advice on whether to combine harassment proceedings with other causes of action, such a defamation, privacy or data protection claim, as well as whether anonymisation is an option. They have experience in seeking urgent ‘without notice’ injunctions and can ensure that such injunctions are properly enforced, including via committal proceedings.

Likewise, Matrix barristers also frequently provide strategic and expert advice to Defendants on the best way to resolve harassment disputes, taking into account the merits of the claim and all factors of concern to the client, such as reputational issues and costs.

Cross Team Advice

Matrix can offer barristers, and source advice, from not only its Media and Information Team, but also its Employment and Crime Teams, all of which have members with expertise and experience in dealing with complex harassment issues, including under the Equality Act 2010. As such it is uniquely placed to ensure that all avenues of redress are covered and the client’s concerns fully met.