Interim Injunctions
An interim injunction is a temporary court order granted before the full trial of a claim. In defamation cases, interim injunctions are granted where the court is satisfied that the claimant is likely to establish at trial that the statement is defamatory and that no defence is likely to succeed. The court balances the potential harm to the claimant against freedom of expression considerations.
We prepare and present urgent applications, often within 24-48 hours of instruction. In cases of extreme urgency — for example, where content is going viral — we can seek without-notice orders that take effect immediately.
Final Injunctions and Permanent Orders
Following a successful defamation claim, the court may grant a final injunction permanently prohibiting republication of the defamatory statement. These orders are enforceable through contempt of court proceedings, with sanctions including imprisonment and unlimited fines.
Final injunctions can be framed broadly to prevent not only repetition of the specific statement but also publication of similar defamatory material. This provides comprehensive, ongoing protection for the claimant's reputation.
Content Removal Strategies
Court-ordered removal is the most powerful tool, but not the only one. We deploy a range of strategies including direct correspondence with publishers, platform-specific takedown procedures, search engine delisting requests, and domain registrar complaints. The most effective approach usually combines multiple methods.
For a comprehensive guide to the available options, see our article on how to remove defamatory content from the internet.