Victoria Jolliffe

Picture of Victoria Jolliffe

Profile

Victoria acts for both claimants and defendants in defamation, privacymalicious falsehood, harassment, and other media related actions as well as general common law matters. She is recommended as a defamation junior in both Chambers & Partners and Legal 500. Victoria is public access accredited and can be instructed directly by members of the public and companies in suitable cases.

Victoria's defendant practice includes: acting as junior Counsel for the Evening Standard in a libel action brought by a former Conservative MP:  Lait v Evening Standard Ltd  at first instance and in the Court of Appeal;  acting as sole counsel for the defendant in Buckley v Dalziel, the first case to establish that absolute privilege applies to police witness statements; and as sole counsel for the successful defendant in the abuse of process case: Williams v MGN Ltd . She has successfully struck out numerous libel claims on behalf of her clients and also regularly advises on practical steps online publishers can take to minimise their potential liability.  

Acting for claimants she successfully obtained compensation and an apology for a claimant in respect of a publication in a professional journal, and has advised on numerous Offer of Amends cases resulting in substantial damages being obtained by her clients. She obtained judgment for a firm of solicitors who brought a libel action in respect of a posting on the website 'Solicitors From Hell': Awdry Bailey Douglas & Anr v Kordowski, and has substantial experience in obtaining disclosure under the Norwich Pharmacal jurisdiction.

Current and recent cases of interest include:

  • Junior counsel for the Claimant in a successful "blackmail" privacy injunction application AMM v HXM
  • Successfully striking out a libel action brought by a former employee of a local authority in Henderson v Hackney Borough Council .
  • Advising and obtaining compensation and an apology for a claimant in relation to an online publication; Ahmed v Fatah & Ors.
  • Junior counsel for the Claimant in Mardas v International Herald Tribune; Mardas v New York Times.
  • Striking out a claim for an injunction against a local newspaper: Allen v The Grimsby Telegraph
  • Reporting restrictions: representing various media groups in a S4(2) Contempt of Court Act 1981 application.
  • Advising and making pre-action and third party dislosure applications in respect of online publications.

Victoria regularly provides pre-publication advice to newspapers, publishers, magazines and television companies and has advised media clients on election law issues. She has advised on and obtained injunctions in privacy actions and under the Protection from Harassment Act 1997, and also advises on related issues under the Data Protection Act 1998.

In addition to media law, Victoria advises and acts for the British Horseracing Authority in disciplinary matters.

Career

Called

2005 Called to the Bar

Education

University of Leeds, Bachelor of Broadcasting (First Class)
Nottingham Law School, GDL (Distinction)
BBP Law School BVC (Very Competent)

Areas of work

  • Defamation
  • Privacy and Confidence
  • Sports Law
  • Intellectual Property
  • Reporting the Courts
  • Pre-publication Advice
  • Public Access
  • Contempt
  • Entertainment Law
  • General Common Law
  • Human Rights
  • Malicious Falsehood
  • Media Law
  • Publishing


Verbatim

"...praised for her prompt and thorough advice. Sources view her as "very much a junior to watch""  Chambers & Partners 2012

"tipped for great things" "a briskly efficient performer" - Chambers & Partners 2011


Testimonials

Ranked in Chambers & Partners (Defamation and Privacy) as  "up and coming" in 2009 and as a leading junior (Band 4) in 2010 and 2011, and (Band 3) in 2012

Ranked as a leading junior - Defamation and privacy - Legal 500 2009 - 2011

Sir Thomas More Bursary - Lincoln's Inn

Memberships

British Association for Sport and the Law


Download vCard