• Ellen Gallagher

  • Partner
  • Reputation and Privacy
Ellen Gallagher

  • “Ellen Gallagher is superb. She is a great strategist and fantastic with clients. She has great attention to detail, while being able to see the big picture and make sure clients’ ultimate aims are always properly taken into account.”

    Legal 500 2026

  • “Ellen Gallagher is outstanding. She combines great strategic thinking with a fabulous legal brain.”

    Legal 500 2026

  • “Ellen Gallagher is excellent. She navigates complex, emotionally charged cases.”

    Legal 500 2026

  • “Ellen Gallagher is a star performer at Hamlins who is thorough, diligent and full of good points.”

    Legal 500 2025

  • “My diligent solicitor Ellen Gallagher, and her impressive team of lawyers at Hamlins, have shown—in over 1,300 cases—these unlawful practices were not isolated incidents. […] Because of the work of my solicitor Ellen Gallagher and lawyers like her, victims and their loved ones are unlikely to have their phones hacked or their medical records stolen by tabloid newspapers, as routinely used to happen.”

    Lord Watson of Wyre Forest (Tom Watson)

  • “Ellen Gallagher is a terrific lawyer with unparalleled knowledge of phone hacking and unlawful information gathering claims.”

    Legal 500 2024

  • “I would like to thank my solicitors, Ellen Gallagher and the Hamlins team, for the sensitivity and care they have shown me throughout the process; they have provided clear and excellent advice and I am thrilled with the outcome.”

    Ronan Keating, singer, songwriter, actor and presenter

  • “Ellen Gallagher combines stellar legal knowledge with pragmatic advice.”

    Legal 500 2024

  • “I am delighted to have now obtained justice and to put my suspicions as to NGN’s stories behind me. Thank you to my solicitor, Ellen Gallagher at Hamlins, for her determination and sensitivity.”

    Paul Sculfor, Model and Actor

  • “Ellen Gallagher – a brilliant lawyer and advocate. She has an eye for detail and can spot points that many others miss. Knowledge of the law is excellent. Highly efficient and great manner with clients.”

    Legal 500 2023

  • “Ellen Gallagher is an exceptional senior associate: hard working, clever and with a keen tactical nose.”

    Legal 500 2023

  • “I’m so grateful to Hamlins for their guidance and sensitive handling of my claim. Despite the emotional difficulty of this process, I can honestly say that I’ve enjoyed every consultation with the team and were it not for the terrific result, I almost wish it wouldn’t end. Thank you to Ellen.”

    Justin Hawkins, lead singer and guitarist of The Darkness

  • “I would like to thank the entire team at Hamlins for their hard work and patience during this process. They have provided me with impeccable service, and I know I had the best possible lawyers for the job. In addition, I would like to give a special mention to Christopher Hutchings and Ellen Gallagher for their support and hard work; I would not be in the position I am now without them.”

    David Cunningham, private individual
Home / Our people / Ellen Gallagher

About Ellen

Ellen is a Partner in the firm and recognised by Legal 500 as a Recommended Lawyer for reputation management. She is a skilled litigator with extensive experience of representing high-profile clients ranging from senior politicians to renowned individuals in the media, entertainment and sports industries as well as entirely private individuals.

Ellen advises clients on all aspects of media law, including in relation to defamation, infringement of privacy, breach of confidence, data protection, copyright infringement, harassment, and image-based abuse. She works on the phone hacking litigation against News Group Newspapers (in respect of which Hamlins is the Lead Solicitor) and MGN Limited. She is also experienced at providing pre-publication advice.

Ellen prides herself on providing clear and pragmatic advice to secure the best possible outcome for her clients, whilst recognising the need to protect their reputations and private lives.

Ellen is a member of The Society of Media Lawyers.

Ellen is a Solicitor-Advocate and was also called to the Bar (Middle Temple) in 2018.

Ellen is a member of the Law for Change panel of strategic legal advisors.

Prior to qualification, Ellen worked for many years in the music sector (including English National Opera and Opera North), where she gained valuable first-hand knowledge of the issues facing the creative industries. She is a Board member of the Association of British Orchestras.

Ellen is recognised as a Recommended Lawyer and a Next Generation Partner for Reputation Management in Legal 500 2026.

Work Highlights

  • Ellen has acted in many reported cases in the High Court, Court of Appeal and Supreme Court.
  • Ellen has secured numerous substantial settlements and public apologies for claimants in the phone hacking litigation, including Ronan Keating, Keith Allen and private individuals.
  • Ellen acted for a multinational pharmaceutical firm to secure the removal of unlawful content from a national newspaper.
  • Ellen acted for a journalist in a defamation claim against an internet blogger.
  • Ellen acted for a national TV company in a leading case concerning confidential journalistic material, secret evidence and closed hearings (Administrative Court and Supreme Court).
  • Ellen acted for a well-known sports promoter and manager in a dispute against a famous sportsman (arbitration).
  • As an advocate, Ellen represented an international rugby player in a Rugby World Cup disciplinary hearing.
  • Ellen represented a national sports club in dispute with its governing body (arbitration).
  • Ellen acted for a company in a dispute with a TV programme maker (High Court and Court of Appeal).