Hamlins were appointed as Lead Solicitor by the Court in 2016 to run the litigation against News Group Newspapers (NGN).

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Since then we have taken significant steps to strengthen the position of Claimants, including:

  • A successful application to broaden the time period over which it is alleged that hacking took place at the Features desk run by NGN;
  • Enabling Claimants to rely on articles alleged to contain information obtained by phone-hacking from a wider group of journalists;
  • A successful application to allow claimants to plead articles published by The Sun newspaper;
  • Pleading a case specifically in relation to the alleged concealment and destruction of evidence of phone-hacking by NGN’s newspapers; and
  • Numerous successful disclosure applications to enable Claimants to better understand the extent of unlawful information-gathering, and the impact on individual cases.

Phone Hacking Claims against Mirror Group Newspapers (MGN)

Mirror Group Newspapers (MGN) is the second major newspaper group to have admitted that phone hacking took place. Hamlins’ team acted for Lauren Alcorn, one of the first Claimants to take action against MGN and one of just 8 “representative Claimants” to take their case to trial in 2015. This resulted in a judgment – Gulati and others v MGN – which set down the basis on which all future phone-hacking cases will be assessed.

The Judge awarded separate sums of damages for various elements of the wrong-doing, including for:

  • Call data records showing calls from journalists to Claimants’ mobile phones;
  • Private investigator invoices;
  • The period of time over which a Claimant was hacked; and
  • Articles published by newspapers containing information obtained through hacking.
View less

Hamlins were appointed as Lead Solicitor by the Court in 2016 to run the litigation against News Group Newspapers (NGN).

Find out more

Since then we have taken significant steps to strengthen the position of Claimants, including:

  • A successful application to broaden the time period over which it is alleged that hacking took place at the Features desk run by NGN;
  • Enabling Claimants to rely on articles alleged to contain information obtained by phone-hacking from a wider group of journalists;
  • A successful application to allow claimants to plead articles published by The Sun newspaper;
  • Pleading a case specifically in relation to the alleged concealment and destruction of evidence of phone-hacking by NGN’s newspapers; and
  • Numerous successful disclosure applications to enable Claimants to better understand the extent of unlawful information-gathering, and the impact on individual cases.

Phone Hacking Claims against Mirror Group Newspapers (MGN)

Mirror Group Newspapers (MGN) is the second major newspaper group to have admitted that phone hacking took place. Hamlins’ team acted for Lauren Alcorn, one of the first Claimants to take action against MGN and one of just 8 “representative Claimants” to take their case to trial in 2015. This resulted in a judgment – Gulati and others v MGN – which set down the basis on which all future phone-hacking cases will be assessed.

The Judge awarded separate sums of damages for various elements of the wrong-doing, including for:

  • Call data records showing calls from journalists to Claimants’ mobile phones;
  • Private investigator invoices;
  • The period of time over which a Claimant was hacked; and
  • Articles published by newspapers containing information obtained through hacking.
View less

Recommendations

“Powerful litigation practice at the forefront of much of the activity concerning the phone hacking prosecutions”

Chambers 2018 - Defamation

“Hamlins LLP is ‘a key firm in the phone-hacking litigation’, where it acts for various claimants against News Group Newspapers.”

Legal 500 2017 - Reputation Management

“Christopher Hutchings is an established defamation and privacy specialist noted for his expertise on phone hacking claims. Clients say: ‘He is very conscientious and careful as well as knowledgeable and experienced.'”

Chambers 2018 - Defamation

“The whole team is well co-ordinated and briefed; they have always been clear and concise in their briefing, expected outcomes and future timings.”

Chambers 2018 - Defamation

“Hamlins have both great legal skill and compassion for those who are victims of phone hacking. They have showed integrity and dedication when dealing with my case. Not only did they obtain compensation with minimum input from me but they were also always responsive to my concerns/queries. I cannot recommend them enough.”

Camille Aznar, successful claimant

“Chris and the team at Hamlins are excellent. I found them to be diligent, sympathetic and thorough.I wholeheartedly recommend them.”

Comedian Vic Reeves (Jim Moir), successful claimant

“They’re very good. They’re extremely knowledgeable, helpful and they get back to you very quickly.”

Client quote - Chambers 2018 - Defamation

“From the moment I instructed Hamlins in my two cases, I followed their advice to the letter and I could not be happier with the outcomes in both”.

Actor Ralf Little, successful claimant

“Hamlins have represented me on 2 separate occasions and I would highly recommend them to anyone in my position! Not only did I get fantastic results but I felt very comfortable with everything along the way! Great friendly professional people who are simply the best at what they do!”

Client recommendation

“I am extremely grateful to Amanda Burge, Laura Daly and all the Hamlins team headed by Chris Hutchings. Hamlins did an excellent job in fighting both my cases and I am absolutely delighted with the results. I would highly recommend them to anyone who believes they may be a victim of phone hacking.

I am a sports agent and represent very high-profile sports players.  I was extremely shocked to learn I was a victim of phone-hacking but it is now clear the newspapers targeted me because of my job and close relationship with the sports players I represented. Articles which were published containing either commercial or personal client information inevitably increased pressure on my relationships with the talent I represented. Hamlins forensic and highly skilled team quickly identified the extent of both the hacking I was subjected to and details of the how this impacted negatively on key and long-standing clients relationships.   With Hamlins’ professional guidance, I was able to achieve an outcome against 2 newspaper group which far exceeded my expectations.”

Simon Bayliff, Sports Agent

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