Defamation lawyers act for people and businesses harmed by false publications.
firms
78
regions
16
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Defamation law requires serious harm, and claims usually must be brought within one year of publication. Concerns notices are usually required first.
Why defamation matters
Online reviews, social media and news can damage reputations quickly. Acting promptly is critical.
The Australian context
Uniform defamation laws apply across states, with a serious harm threshold, mandatory concerns notices and a one-year limitation period. Recent reforms address liability of digital intermediaries.
Verified: phone number confirmed on the firm’s website and Google
Adelaide, SA · Adelaide CBD
★★★★★★★★★★4.1(27)Google rating from 27 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Norman Waterhouse Lawyers provides legal services in Adelaide, SA. Listed practice areas include Property & Conveyancing, Debt Recovery and Litigation & Dispute Resolution.
Property & Conveyancing+7 moreDebt Recovery · Litigation & Dispute Resolution · Business & Commercial Law · De Facto Relationships · Planning & Environment · Defamation · International Family Law & Hague Abduction
Verified: phone number confirmed on the firm’s website and Google
Parramatta, NSW · Western Sydney
★★★★★★★★★★4.4(25)Google rating from 25 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Stacks Law Firm provides legal services in Parramatta, NSW. Listed practice areas include Business & Commercial Law, Property & Conveyancing and Wills & Estates.
Business & Commercial Law+7 moreProperty & Conveyancing · Wills & Estates · Medical Negligence · Franchising · Debt Recovery · Defamation · Employment LawNo win, no fee
Verified: phone number confirmed on the firm’s website and Google
Kingscliff, NSW · Northern Rivers
★★★★★★★★★★4.9(18)Google rating from 18 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Attwood Marshall Lawyers provides legal services in Kingscliff, NSW. Listed practice areas include Property & Conveyancing, Wills & Estates and Business & Commercial Law.
Property & Conveyancing+7 moreWills & Estates · Business & Commercial Law · Litigation & Dispute Resolution · Family Law · Planning & Environment · Employment Law · DefamationNo win, no feeThe firm mentions no win, no fee arrangements. Confirm terms in writing.
Verified: phone number confirmed on the firm’s website and Google
Sydney, NSW · Sydney CBD
★★★★★★★★★★5.0(17)Google rating from 17 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Cityscape Lawyers provides legal services in Sydney, NSW. Listed practice areas include Assault & Violent Offences, Property & Conveyancing and Traffic Offences.
Assault & Violent Offences+7 moreProperty & Conveyancing · Traffic Offences · Drug Offences · Medical Negligence · Defamation · Criminal Law · Domestic Violence & AVOs
Verified: phone number confirmed on the firm’s website and Google
Surfers Paradise, QLD · Gold Coast
★★★★★★★★★★5.0(13)Google rating from 13 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Gosai Law provides legal services in Surfers Paradise, QLD. Listed practice areas include Class Actions, Litigation & Dispute Resolution and Business & Commercial Law.
Class Actions+7 moreLitigation & Dispute Resolution · Business & Commercial Law · Property & Conveyancing · Intellectual Property & Trade Marks · Debt Recovery · Defamation · Fraud & White Collar Crime
Verified: phone number confirmed on the firm’s website and Google
Bentleigh, VIC · South East Melbourne
★★★★★★★★★★5.0(13)Google rating from 13 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Malewska & Associates Lawyers provides legal services in Bentleigh, VIC. Listed practice areas include Wills & Estates, Immigration & Visas and Powers of Attorney & Guardianship.
Wills & Estates+5 moreImmigration & Visas · Powers of Attorney & Guardianship · Defamation · Family Law · Probate & Estate Administration
Verified: phone number confirmed on the firm’s website and Google
Tamworth, NSW · New England & North West
★★★★★★★★★★4.3(13)Google rating from 13 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Stacks Law Firm provides legal services in Tamworth, NSW. Listed practice areas include Business & Commercial Law, Property & Conveyancing and Medical Negligence.
Business & Commercial Law+7 moreProperty & Conveyancing · Medical Negligence · Wills & Estates · Franchising · Debt Recovery · Defamation · Family LawNo win, no feeThe firm mentions no win, no fee arrangements. Confirm terms in writing.
Verified: phone number confirmed on the firm’s website and Google
Williams Landing, VIC · Western Melbourne
★★★★★★★★★★4.7(13)Google rating from 13 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Vitt Legal provides legal services in Williams Landing, VIC. Listed practice areas include Property & Conveyancing, Business & Commercial Law and Defamation.
Property & Conveyancing+7 moreBusiness & Commercial Law · Defamation · Family Law · Immigration & Visas · Litigation & Dispute Resolution · Wills & Estates · Insolvency & Restructuring
Verified: phone number confirmed on the firm’s website and Google
Tweed Heads, NSW · Northern Rivers
★★★★★★★★★★4.6(12)Google rating from 12 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Stacks Law Firm provides legal services in Tweed Heads, NSW. Listed practice areas include Business & Commercial Law, Property & Conveyancing and Wills & Estates.
Business & Commercial Law+7 moreProperty & Conveyancing · Wills & Estates · Medical Negligence · Franchising · Debt Recovery · Defamation · Personal InjuryNo win, no feeThe firm mentions no win, no fee arrangements. Confirm terms in writing.
Verified: phone number confirmed on the firm’s website and Google
Bunbury, WA · South West
★★★★★★★★★★5.0(11)Google rating from 11 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Workwise Employment Lawyers provides legal services in Bunbury, WA. Listed practice areas include Employment Law, Unfair Dismissal and Business & Commercial Law.
Employment Law+3 moreUnfair Dismissal · Business & Commercial Law · Defamation
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Rosebud, VIC · Mornington Peninsula
★★★★★★★★★★3.0(6)Google rating from 6 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Moreheads Lawyers provides legal services in Rosebud, VIC. Listed practice areas include Family Law, Litigation & Dispute Resolution and Property & Conveyancing.
Verified: phone number confirmed on the firm’s website and Google
Penrith, NSW · Western Sydney
★★★★★★★★★★3.7(6)Google rating from 6 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
The People's Solicitors provides legal services in Penrith, NSW. Listed practice areas include Wills & Estates, Property & Conveyancing and Defamation.
Wills & Estates+7 moreProperty & Conveyancing · Defamation · Administrative & Government Law · Family Law · Domestic Violence & AVOs · Criminal Law · Personal Injury
Verified: phone number confirmed on the firm’s website and Google
Frankston, VIC · South East Melbourne
★★★★★★★★★★5.0(3)Google rating from 3 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Guymer Lawyers provides legal services in Frankston, VIC. Listed practice areas include Building & Construction, Business & Commercial Law and Commercial Litigation.
Building & Construction+7 moreBusiness & Commercial Law · Commercial Litigation · Litigation & Dispute Resolution · Family Law · Property & Conveyancing · Debt Recovery · Defamation
Verified: phone number confirmed on the firm’s website and Google
Byron Bay, NSW · Northern Rivers
New on GoogleOnly 2 Google reviews so far, not enough for a reliable rating
Twomey Dispute Lawyers provides legal services in Byron Bay, NSW. Listed practice areas include Litigation & Dispute Resolution, Defamation and Partner & Family Visas.
Litigation & Dispute Resolution+7 moreDefamation · Partner & Family Visas · Business & Commercial Law · Commercial Litigation · Building & Construction · Debt Recovery · Insolvency & Restructuring
Verified: phone number confirmed on the firm’s website and Google
Southport, QLD · Gold Coast
New on GoogleOnly 1 Google review so far, not enough for a reliable rating
Attwood Marshall Lawyers provides legal services in Southport, QLD. Listed practice areas include Property & Conveyancing, Wills & Estates and Business & Commercial Law.
Property & Conveyancing+7 moreWills & Estates · Business & Commercial Law · Litigation & Dispute Resolution · Family Law · Planning & Environment · Employment Law · DefamationNo win, no feeThe firm mentions no win, no fee arrangements. Confirm terms in writing.Free first consultThe firm advertises a free first consultation.
Verified: phone number confirmed on the firm’s website and Google
Bondi Junction, NSW · Eastern Suburbs & Inner West
New on GoogleOnly 1 Google review so far, not enough for a reliable rating
Bob Zelden Solicitors provides legal services in Bondi Junction, NSW. Listed practice areas include Property & Conveyancing, Defamation and Family Law.
Property & Conveyancing+7 moreDefamation · Family Law · Wills & Estates · Estate Planning & Testamentary Trusts · Criminal Law · Personal Injury · Planning & Environment
Verified: phone number confirmed on the firm’s website and Google
Hurstville, NSW · Southern Sydney
New on GoogleOnly 1 Google review so far, not enough for a reliable rating
Navado provides legal services in Hurstville, NSW. Listed practice areas include Property & Conveyancing, Litigation & Dispute Resolution and Business & Commercial Law.
Property & Conveyancing+7 moreLitigation & Dispute Resolution · Business & Commercial Law · Tax Law · Immigration & Visas · Defamation · Professional Negligence · Banking & FinanceFree first consultThe firm advertises a free first consultation.
Verified: phone number confirmed on the firm’s website and Google
Springwood, NSW · Western Sydney
New on GoogleOnly 1 Google review so far, not enough for a reliable rating
Stacks Law Firm provides legal services in Springwood, NSW. Listed practice areas include Business & Commercial Law, Property & Conveyancing and Wills & Estates.
Business & Commercial Law+7 moreProperty & Conveyancing · Wills & Estates · Medical Negligence · Franchising · Debt Recovery · Defamation · Employment LawNo win, no feeThe firm mentions no win, no fee arrangements. Confirm terms in writing.
Verified: phone number confirmed on the firm’s website and Google
Mittagong, NSW · Southern Highlands & Tablelands
Commercial Litigation Lawyers provides legal services in Mittagong, NSW. Listed practice areas include Business & Commercial Law, Litigation & Dispute Resolution and Property & Conveyancing.
Business & Commercial Law+7 moreLitigation & Dispute Resolution · Property & Conveyancing · Defamation · Debt Recovery · Intellectual Property & Trade Marks · Corporate Law & M&A · Contract Law
Verified: phone number confirmed on the firm’s website and Google
Surry Hills, NSW · Sydney CBD
Frankel Lawyers provides legal services in Surry Hills, NSW. Listed practice areas include Defamation, Property & Conveyancing and Intellectual Property & Trade Marks.
Defamation+6 moreProperty & Conveyancing · Intellectual Property & Trade Marks · Litigation & Dispute Resolution · Wills & Estates · Competition & Consumer Law · Business & Commercial Law
Verified: phone number confirmed on the firm’s website and Google
Busselton, WA · South West
Hale Legal provides legal services in Busselton, WA. Listed practice areas include Property & Conveyancing, Litigation & Dispute Resolution and Business & Commercial Law.
Property & Conveyancing+7 moreLitigation & Dispute Resolution · Business & Commercial Law · Wills & Estates · Commercial Litigation · Defamation · Coronial Inquests · Class Actions
Verified: phone number confirmed on the firm’s website and Google
Lismore, NSW · Northern Rivers
Joseph Legal provides legal services in Lismore, NSW. Listed practice areas include Litigation & Dispute Resolution, Property & Conveyancing and Defamation.
Identify the exact publication, audience, timing and person or organisation involved. Give the lawyer a copy in its original context rather than a paraphrase.
Ask for advice before sending demands or publishing a response that may create additional issues.
How the engagement may progress
01
Prepare a chronology, agreement or policy, important communications and a calculation of any claimed amount. Distinguish firsthand facts from assumptions.
02
Discuss negotiation, a complaint scheme, mediation, a tribunal or court. Ask which options are available for this particular matter.
03
Agree on a first step and a point to reassess progress and cost. Before settling, understand what claims would be released and how obligations would be recorded.
Fees and the scope of work
Request stages for advice, correspondence, negotiations and proceedings. Discuss filing, expert and barrister costs and any potential liability for another party’s costs.
Ask for a written scope identifying the work you are authorising, the person responsible and when costs will be reviewed. If you only want advice on one step, say so before the firm begins wider work.
Dates to raise at first contact
Provide every demand, decision and court document with its date. Do not assume informal negotiations suspend a response or filing deadline.
Questions to ask a defamation adviser
What immediate steps and dates need assessment?
How should further communications be handled?
What evidence would change the assessment?
Is a complaint or dispute-resolution scheme available?
What are the practical costs and risks if agreement is not reached?
Directory guidance updated 19 September 2026. General information to help you prepare for a conversation with a professional; not advice about your individual matter. Check current requirements with the relevant authority.
Good to know
Frequently asked questions
What is a concerns notice?
A formal notice to the publisher setting out the defamatory material and harm, usually required before suing.
How much does going to court cost?
It depends on the court, the complexity and how far the matter goes. Ask for a written estimate for each stage, and remember that the losing party often pays part of the winner's costs.
Can I sue for defamation?
Possibly, if a publication identified you and caused or is likely to cause serious harm to your reputation. There are defences and strict time limits, usually one year from publication.
