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

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.
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',
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.
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.
Confidential	Acting on one of the biggest oppositions to proceed through the Trade Mark Registry involving 30+ witnesses of fact, 6 experts and numerous documents (including 2000 survey questionnaires).

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Awards

Chambers and Partners UK 2023	Media & Entertainment (publishing) - Band 1: 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 Shan is very well respected. Clients think highly of him and take what he says very seriously."
Chambers and Partners HNW 2022	Defamation/Reputation Management (high net worth) - Band 1: Niri Shan "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 and Partners UK 2023	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. He advises clients on pre-publication as well as post-publication issues.
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	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."
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."

Legal 500 UK 2022	Reputation management
Legal 500 UK 2022	IP - trademarks, copyright and design
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 - 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.
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 - 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."
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 - 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."

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