Disputes & Litigation
Defamation lawyers act for people and businesses harmed by false publications.
Defamation law requires serious harm, and claims usually must be brought within one year of publication. Concerns notices are usually required first.
Online reviews, social media and news can damage reputations quickly. Acting promptly is critical.
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.
78 firms
Mandurah, WA · Perth South
Mountains Lawyers Legal Solutions provides legal services in Mandurah, WA. Listed practice areas include Wills & Estates, Litigation & Dispute Resolution and Debt Recovery.
Bowral, NSW · Southern Highlands & Tablelands
Stacks Law Firm provides legal services in Bowral, NSW. Listed practice areas include Business & Commercial Law, Property & Conveyancing and Wills & Estates.
Dee Why, NSW · Sydney North Shore & Northern Beaches
Staunton & Thompson Lawyers provides legal services in Dee Why, NSW. Listed practice areas include Wills & Estates, Business & Commercial Law and Litigation & Dispute Resolution.
Walkerville, SA · Adelaide Metro
BSG Lawyers & Notary Public Adelaide provides legal services in Walkerville, SA. Listed practice areas include Notary Public & JP Services, Family Law and Litigation & Dispute Resolution.
Melbourne, VIC · Melbourne CBD
Gordon Legal Warrnambool provides legal services in Melbourne, VIC. Listed practice areas include Class Actions, Personal Injury and Workers Compensation.
Loganholme, QLD · Brisbane South & Logan
Paradise Law provides legal services in Loganholme, QLD. Listed practice areas include Wills & Estates, Employment Law and Health & Medical Practitioner Law.
Brisbane City, QLD · Brisbane CBD
Fairlove & Goodman provides legal services in Brisbane City, QLD. Listed practice areas include Property & Conveyancing, Business & Commercial Law and Litigation & Dispute Resolution.
Thornleigh, NSW · Sydney North Shore & Northern Beaches
Tara Jain Solicitors provides legal services in Thornleigh, NSW. Listed practice areas include Property & Conveyancing, Wills & Estates and Tax Law.
Hobart, TAS · Hobart & South
Paradise Law provides legal services in Hobart, TAS. Listed practice areas include Wills & Estates, Employment Law and Health & Medical Practitioner Law.
Parramatta, NSW · Western Sydney
Macdonald Bruce Lawyers provides legal services in Parramatta, NSW. Listed practice areas include Wills & Estates, Property & Conveyancing and Personal Injury.
Parramatta, NSW · Western Sydney
Houston Defence Lawyers provides legal services in Parramatta, NSW. Listed practice areas include Traffic Offences, Criminal Law and Drink & Drug Driving.
St Kilda, VIC · South East Melbourne
Simon English Lawyers provides legal services in St Kilda, VIC. Listed practice areas include Property & Conveyancing, Business & Commercial Law and Defamation.
Geelong, VIC · Geelong & Surf Coast
Gordon Legal Warrnambool provides legal services in Geelong, VIC. Listed practice areas include Class Actions, Personal Injury and Workers Compensation.
Iles Selley provides legal services in Adelaide, SA. Listed practice areas include Litigation & Dispute Resolution, Commercial Litigation and Defamation.
Law Tram provides legal services in Varsity Lakes, QLD. Listed practice areas include Business & Commercial Law, Wills & Estates and Defamation.
Salisbury, SA · Adelaide Metro
Voumard Lawyers provides legal services in Salisbury, SA. Listed practice areas include Property & Conveyancing, Litigation & Dispute Resolution and Family Law.
Rockhampton City, QLD · Central Queensland
Paradise Law provides legal services in Rockhampton City, QLD. Listed practice areas include Wills & Estates, Employment Law and Health & Medical Practitioner Law.
Whyalla, SA · Eyre, Yorke & Mid North
Voumard Lawyers provides legal services in Whyalla, SA. Listed practice areas include Property & Conveyancing, Family Law and Litigation & Dispute Resolution.
Sydney, NSW · Sydney CBD
YPOL Lawyers provides legal services in Sydney, NSW. Listed practice areas include Litigation & Dispute Resolution, Commercial Litigation and Class Actions.
Fremantle, WA · Perth South
Aherns Lawyers provides legal services in Fremantle, WA. Listed practice areas include Business & Commercial Law, Litigation & Dispute Resolution and Property & Conveyancing.
Caulfield, VIC · South East Melbourne
B'nai B'rith Anti-Defamation Commission provides legal services in Caulfield, VIC. Listed practice areas include Defamation.
Warrnambool, VIC · Western District & Wimmera
Gordon Legal Warrnambool provides legal services in Warrnambool, VIC. Listed practice areas include Class Actions, Personal Injury and Workers Compensation.
Wyong, NSW · Central Coast
Houston Defence Lawyers provides legal services in Wyong, NSW. Listed practice areas include Traffic Offences, Criminal Law and Drink & Drug Driving.
North Curl Curl, NSW · Sydney North Shore & Northern Beaches
Lodestar Legal Pty Ltd provides legal services in North Curl Curl, NSW. Listed practice areas include Business & Commercial Law, Health & Medical Practitioner Law and Sports & Entertainment Law.
Understand the next step
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.
Prepare a chronology, agreement or policy, important communications and a calculation of any claimed amount. Distinguish firsthand facts from assumptions.
Discuss negotiation, a complaint scheme, mediation, a tribunal or court. Ask which options are available for this particular matter.
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.
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.
Provide every demand, decision and court document with its date. Do not assume informal negotiations suspend a response or filing deadline.
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
A formal notice to the publisher setting out the defamatory material and harm, usually required before suing.
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.
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.