Niri Shanmuganathan

Niri has over two decades' experience as a media and IP litigator. He is recognised for his brilliant client handling, be that for a high-net-worth individual or a media organisation.

Niri advises on all aspects of soft IP including data protection. He advises across the publishing, advertising, sport and film/tv sectors on defamation, contempt, obscenity, privacy and advertising related issues.

Niri acts for both claimants and defendants in the media industry which gives him a unique position in the marketplace. He offers reputation management advice to companies and high-profile individuals alike.

He is well-connected with in-house lawyers at broadcasters and newspapers and regularly deals with them before broadcast or publication to ensure that allegations are neutralised as far as possible. He also deals with post-broadcast and publication issues and has been successful in obtaining apologies and other remedies.

Niri has also helped clients targeted by competitors, campaigning organisations, whistleblowers, regulators and ex-employees.

With over 25 years of experience it means he’s really able to look after the client and has a depth of knowledge that others simply do not possess.

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Career

Since 2002	Partner, Taylor Wessing
Since 2013	Board Director
2008 - 2013	Head of IP and Media group, Taylor Wessing

Education

1996	Diploma, Intellectual Property Law, Bristol University, UK
1995	Admitted to the Bar, England and Wales
1993	First Class Honours, Law Society

Memberships & Associations

Legal group of the Publishers Association
British Literary and Artistic Copyright Association
International Association of Entertainment Lawyers
US Copyright Society
Media Law Resource Centre

Additional languages

English

Expertise

Sectors Technology, media & communications Consumer & retail Music Advertising & marketing

Experience

El Naschie v Macmillan Publishers Limited (trading as Nature Publishing Group) and another	The scientific journal Nature, and one of its journalists, in successfully defending a libel claim brought by the former Editor-in-Chief of another scientific journal. In her judgment, Mrs Justice Sharp found for Nature on all three of its pleaded defences (justification, honest comment and 'Reynolds' qualified privilege – a defence protecting responsible journalism on a matter of public interest).
Evening Standard	Successfully defending a claim by the owner who was the subject of an undercover investigation by the Evening Standard who claimed in a front page piece that some of the residents were being treated in a cruel and neglectful way. The Claimant was represented on a CFA and withdrew her claim shortly before trial. If the trial had gone ahead this would have been one of the biggest libel trials in recent years with 50 witnesses due to give evidence.
Expert witness in Jay Z case	An expert on music publishing law and practice in the UK in high profile Californian litigation brought in relation to the Jay-Z song Big Pimpin',

Pollard Review	A senior news executive in relation to the Pollard Review into the BBC’s decision to drop the Newsnight Investigation into Jimmy Savile. This involved advising on all aspects of the Review, including attending the interviews, preparing submissions to the Review, considering the Report and handling the surrounding press coverage.
Blackmail case for a celebrity	Secured a final injunction in defamation, privacy and harassment for an anonymised client.“LJY” was sent a series of letters by an unknown blackmailer threatening to release false allegations of a serious criminal offence to the media if a substantial sum of money was not paid. This followed the team’s earlier successful application for an interim injunction on the same grounds, which was served on the blackmailer over a series of text messages sent from a blank Taylor Wessing SIM.
Mail On Sunday	Acting on a copyright and privacy claim brought by Madonna over her wedding photos. One of the leading cases on the assessment of damages in copyright actions.

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Awards

Chambers High Net Worth UK 2022	Defamation/Reputation Management: High Net Worth - "Niri is a lawyer of the highest calibre and sophistication. He carries an unparalleled intuition for what is in his client's best interests," says a source, with another adding: "He is a real star - a go-to lawyer for many high net worth individuals." "I've never encountered another media and reputation management lawyer who is able to fix quietly so many challenging matters. This is a true gift – and it is certainly a gift for his clients," states a market commentator.
Chambers UK 2022	Media & Entertainment - Publishing: "Niri Shan is a highly respected media and IP litigator. He is recommended for his handling of pre-publication and post-publication reviews in news media, advertising and political communications, and also for negotiating commercial agreements on behalf of publishing houses." "Niri is smart and easy to work with."
Chambers UK 2022	Defamation/Reputation Management: "Niri’s expertise and knowledge of case law and contacts are first class; however, his calmness and strategic insight are what make him stand out. He is readily available and communicates guidance with an ease and simplicity." "He has excellent tactical judgement and client-handling skills."
Legal 500 UK 2022	IP - trademarks, copyright and design
Legal 500 UK 2022	Reputation management
Legal 500 UK 2022	Media and entertainment (Hall of Fame)
Chambers High Net Worth UK 2020	Leading individual - Reputation Management (band 1): Niri Shan is highlighted for his considerable skill acting on behalf of both claimants and defendants across a spectrum of defamation and privacy matters. Sources remark: "He provides very balanced and sensible advice for clients with tough issues."
Spear's Reputation Management Index 2020	Top ten UK Reputation Lawyer
Spear's 500 2020	Top Reputation Management Lawyer
Chambers UK 2020	Leading individual - Media & Entertainment (Band 1): Niri Shan is recommended for his handling of pre-publication and post-publication reviews in news media, advertising and political communications, and also for negotiating commercial agreements on behalf of publishing houses. A client says: "Niri is extremely knowledgeable, and his experience of being a libel lawyer and his understanding of data privacy are very impressive."
Chambers UK 2020	Leading individual - Defamation/Reputation Management (Band 1): Niri Shan is highlighted for his considerable skill acting on behalf of both claimants and defendants across a spectrum of defamation and privacy matters. Sources remark: "He provides very balanced and sensible advice for clients with tough issues."
Chambers UK 2020	Leading individual - Intellectual Property (Band 4): Niri Shan leads the firm's UK IP practice, and is particularly authoritative on trade mark, copyright and image rights in publishing, media and entertainment. He is sought after for disputes and non-contentious commercial advice.
Legal 500 UK 2020	Leading individual - TMT (technology, media and telecoms): Media and entertainment (including media finance): 'You want Niri Shanmuganathan on your team.'
Legal 500 UK 2020	Leading individual - Risk advisory: Reputation management: 'Niri Shan is great to deal with when there is a crisis. The most pragmatic dispute solvers in the sector. If you want a negotiated solution, this is your firm.' 'Niri Shan is the best lawyer in the country for engaging with publications in a non aggressive way to arrive at quiet conclusions to challenging matters. He gets results that no other lawyer seems able to do. And he does this time and time again. A master of quiet negotiation.'
Chambers High Net Worth UK 2019	Leading individual - Defamation/Reputation Management: High Net Worth (Band 2)
Managing Intellectual Property - IP Stars 2019	Trade mark star
Chambers UK 2019	Leading individual - Intellectual Property (Band 4): Niri Shan is a widely respected specialist in digital and traditional publishing, and has a distinguished record in copyright litigation. A client says: "He's an excellent litigator with an impressive grasp of strategy."
Chambers UK 2019	Leading individual - Media & Entertainment: Publishing (Band 1): Niri Shan is recommended for his oversight of pre-publication and post-publication reviews and also for negotiating publishing agreements. A client says: "He was confident but measured and was very impressive in how he drove home all the right points."
Chambers UK 2019	Leading individual - Defamation/Reputation Management (Band 1): Niri Shan continues to be recognised as one of the leading lawyers in the space, advising both claimants and defendants on all matters related to defamation, privacy and harassment. One interviewee attests: "He's got a depth of knowledge that others simply do not possess; he not only has the client management skills but he also understands every aspect of the law."
Legal 500 UK 2019	Leading individual - Risk advisory: Reputation management: Niri Shanmuganathan leads on a range of matters including blackmail threats, an application to reduce reporting restrictions and pre-publication advisory work.
Legal 500 UK 2019	Leading individual - TMT: Media and entertainment (including media finance): Litigator Niri Shanmuganathan is ‘first-rate’
Chambers High Net Worth UK 2018	Leading individual - Defamation/Reputation Management: High Net Worth (Band 2): "The experience that he's got means that he's able to really look after the client, and because he's been in this area for so long, he's got the depth of knowledge that others simply do not possess. He not only has the client management skills but he also understands every aspect of the law."
Spear's 500 2017	Lawyer of the Year – Media, Privacy & Reputation. The Spear's 500 guide, recognised Niri as "outstanding in field" and he is described as "a first class operator who takes on the most complex defamation quagmires".
Chambers UK 2018	Leading individual - Media & Entertainment: Publishing (Band 1): Niri Shan draws praise from market sources for his experience in the field of publishing law. He provides pre-publication, copyright and contractual advice to a range of media companies.
Chambers UK 2018	Leading individual - Intellectual Property (Band 4): Niri Shan is best known for his work on copyright and trade mark litigation. He also acts in opposition actions before the trade mark registry.
Chambers UK 2018	Leading individual - Defamation - Reputation Management (Band 1): Niri Shan offers reputation management advice to corporations and high-profile individuals. He possesses expertise in defamation, harassment, data protection and privacy issues, which he brings to bear across the publishing, advertising, sport and film/TV sectors. Clients say: "He's a great adviser and a heavyweight figure in the industry. He's in total command and offers very wise counsel."
Legal 500 UK 2017	Leading individual - TMT: Media & Entertainment (publishing; litigation): Niri Shanmuganathan (an ‘exceptional litigator’)
Legal 500 UK 2017	Leading individual - Risk Advisory: Reputation Management: The group includes ‘premier-league practitioner’ Niri Shanmuganathan, who heads the firm’s publishing group and is recognised for his experience advising corporate clients. Shanmuganathan regularly acts for individuals; his recent work includes advising a former City banker in two libel claims against ex-colleagues pertaining to alleged defamatory comments.
Spear's 500 2017	Top Reputation Management Lawyer
Chambers UK 2017	Media & Entertainment: Publishing (Band 1) - Niri Shan acts for a variety of media organisations and has far-reaching experience in publishing law, advising on commercial and contentious matters. He is described by a client as "fantastic - very engaged, personable and very knowledgeable about the industry."
Chambers UK 2017	Defamation: Reputation Management (Band 1) - Niri Shan acts for a number of publishers and corporate clients on reputation protection and is described as a "strategic" litigator with " "excellent connections with legal departments within newspaper houses." One source says: "He's absolutely charming and his charm is a fantastic legal weapon."
Chambers UK 2017	Intellectual Property - London (Firms) (Band 4) - Niri Shan leads the firm's IP and media and entertainment groups. He is best known for music copyright litigation, and also advises on online trade mark infringement and anti-counterfeiting actions.
Legal 500 UK 2022	Reputation management

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