Keith Mathieson
Partner
Keith is a recognised as one of the UK’s leading defendant defamation and privacy lawyers, and defends a wide variety of clients in libel, privacy, and similar claims. He has had a prominent role in press regulation, including acting on behalf of Associated Newspapers throughout the Leveson Inquiry. Keith is the principal author and editor of The Privacy Law Handbook, and has contributed to the third edition of The Freedom of Information Handbook.
“We always try and provide value for money, and we are always practical and realistic about what we can achieve.”
“I have over forty years’ experience in the field and a reputation as one of the UK’s leading defendant defamation and privacy lawyers.
I have advised publishers around the world, including in the US, Europe, and Australia. My approach is informed by my long experience in representing defendants in media cases.
We always try and provide value for money, and we are always practical and realistic about what we can achieve for clients. That may be fighting hard to win their case in court – but it is just as likely to be getting them out of a tight corner as best we can.”
Directory quotes
"When you work with Keith, you know you're in safe hands. His level of experience is extraordinary." - Chambers UK 2025
"Keith is excellent - really highly regarded." - Chambers UK 2025
"Keith is one of the most experienced media defence lawyers in the UK. You can't get better. His experience and instincts on publication and information law are first-rate." - Chambers UK 2024
"Keith Mathieson is a doyen in the field and remains the leading defendant-focused lawyer in the sector." - Legal 500 UK 2023
Ranked – Chambers UK 2022
"Keith Mathieson leads the firm's media team and has a wealth of experience in this sphere. He is regularly called upon to defend media sector clients, including leading newspapers and publishers, against allegations of defamation. He is a very effective, clever and wise litigator. He has experience and judgement." - Chambers UK 2022
Top Ranked – Chambers UK 2022
"Keith Mathieson is an experienced litigator with specialist expertise in news media regulation, freedom of information and data protection. He is frequently called upon to provide pre-publication and content clearance advice to national newspapers, magazines and book publishers. Keith always makes time available, is very experienced and has sound judgement. He is pragmatic, knows when to fight and when not to, and knows his stuff." - Chambers UK 2022
"Keith Mathieson is the best media/reputation management partner in London." - The Legal 500 UK 2022
Hall of Fame - The Legal 500 UK 2022
"The stand-out partner is Keith Mathieson. He is the most capable and experienced media defence solicitor in this jurisdiction. He can advise on and litigate all aspects of the law in this area." - The Legal 500 UK 2022
Keith Mathieson leads the firm's media team and has a wealth of experience in this sphere. He is regularly called upon to defend media sector clients, including leading newspapers and publishers, against allegations of defamation. - Chambers UK 2021
"Keith Mathieson is the doyen on the defendant side of defamation and reputation management. He is the first point of call for most publishers. He sees the bigger picture and can spot problems in the distance. He is superb." - Chambers UK 2021
"If there is something he doesn't know, it isn't worth knowing. His instincts are spot on, he's unflappable and he always gives very measured and thoughtful advice." - Chambers UK 2021
Keith Mathieson is an experienced litigator with specialist expertise in news media regulation, freedom of information and data protection. He is frequently called upon to provide pre-publication and content clearance advice to national newspapers, magazines and book publishers. - Chambers UK 2021
"He's amazing and is a real expert in his field." - Chambers UK 2021
"His judgement is impeccable." - Chambers UK 2021
Hall of Fame. - The Legal 500 UK 2021
"Keith Mathieson is second to none when it comes to knowledge of libel and privacy." - The Legal 500 UK 2021
"Keith Mathieson remains at the top of his game, a masterful tactician." - The Legal 500 UK 2021
Recommended. - The Legal 500 UK 2021
"Keith Mathieson is the best media/reputation management partner in London." - The Legal 500 UK 2021
"The stand-out partner is Keith Mathieson. He is the most capable and experienced media defence solicitor in this jurisdiction. He can advise on and litigate all aspects of the law in this area." - The Legal 500 UK 2021
Leading individual. - The Legal 500 UK 2020
"Keith Mathieson is the epitome of calm, collected and hugely accomplished; he is a true expert in the field." - The Legal 500 UK 2020
Hall of Fame. - The Legal 500 UK 2020
"Keith Mathieson is also highly regarded in the space and is active in issues involving privacy and the misuse of personal data." - The Legal 500 UK 2020
"Keith Mathieson is the doyen of the defendant media law world. He is a hugely respected partner with unparalleled experience of defendant-based litigation in the area. He has a complete command of the legal issues and tactical considerations which confront defendants facing claims in the reputation management sector and provides exceptionally well-judged and commercially-sensitive advice to his clients." - The Legal 500 UK 2020
Keith Mathieson is recognised for his excellence in the defamation defence space. He routinely acts for clients such as newspapers, internet companies and media insurers. - Chambers UK 2019
"He has seen it all before and is incredibly calm. He has got very good judgement, and he instinctively knows which issues to pursue and which not to." - Chambers UK 2019
Keith Mathieson is an experienced litigator with specialist expertise in news media regulation, freedom of information and data protection. - Chambers UK 2019
"He's outstandingly good." - Chambers UK 2019
Keith Mathieson acts for an enviable client list, which includes major newspapers and other publishers. He is highly regarded for his experience and judgement. - Chambers UK 2018
"He can instinctively spot where a case is heading and knows what to avoid." - Chambers UK 2018
[He has a] practical approach to problem solving. - Chambers UK 2018
A "very experienced and capable litigator" - The Legal 500 UK 2018
Listed as a leading individual. - The Legal 500 UK 2018
Praised for being a "highly respected Partner who has a complete command of the legal issues." - The Legal 500 UK 2018
Keith has "many years of experience and provides pragmatic solutions" - The Legal 500 UK 2018
Keith Mathieson is "a first-rate lawyer" and "an excellent tactician, who is cool and collected under pressure and gives thoughtful and pragmatic advice." - The Legal 500 UK 2017
Keith Mathieson has a "fantastic reputation." - The Legal 500 UK 2017
Keith Mathieson leads the firm's defamation team and is deeply experienced in defending newspaper groups and other publishing clients in media litigation. Sources say he has "remarkably sound judgement and common sense" and is a "superb tactician." - Chambers UK 2017
"hugely experienced and universally respected." - The Legal 500 UK 2016
"The "outstandingly good" Keith Mathieson is a renowned defamation defence practitioner with extensive experience of representing media companies in some of the most high-profile trials. "He absolutely fights the corner of his client," say sources." - Chambers UK 2016
Listed in the elite "Leading lawyers" list, The Legal 500 UK 2015's guide to outstanding lawyers nationwide
"One of the best defendant lawyers in the business." - The Legal 500 UK 2015
"The "hugely impressive" Keith Mathieson continues to be a trailblazer in defamation work... "unflappable, calm, measured, vastly experienced practitioner with decades of work in this field as a specialist". - Chambers UK 2015
"Recommended." - The Legal 500 UK 2015
"Combines sharp intelligence with an acute tactical awareness." - The Legal 500 UK 2014
"Very practical." - The Legal 500 UK 2014
"Exceptional"... A "commercially sound, first-rate solicitor," he "never makes a bad judgement" and "is calm, thoughtful and effective." Sources observe that he is "brilliant with clients" and sum him up as "absolutely solid gold." - Chambers UK 2014
Relevant work
Representing Mirror Group over more than 12 years in hundreds of phone hacking claims.
Advising the Daily Mail, Mail on Sunday, and MailOnline in numerous libel and privacy cases.
Providing pre-publication advice to publishers of all kinds, from the Financial Times to the Spectator.
Weller v Associated Newspapers
Yeo v Times Newspapers
Gulati and others v Mirror Group
AAA v Associated Newspapers
Henry v News Group
Get in touch
Expertise sectors
Technology, Media & Telecoms, Big Tech & Platforms, Media & Entertainment, Media & Entertainment
Expertise services
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