Ben Gallop
Call: 2017
Call: 2017
Ben Gallop is an experienced junior specialising in all aspects of media, communications and information law. He acts for both claimants and defendants. His clients have included news publishers, broadcasters, politicians and other high-profile individuals, as well as financial institutions, technology companies, charities and NGOs.
He has acted in some of the most high profile defamation, privacy and data protection actions of recent years. This work includes as junior counsel for the Guardian in the successful defence of the defamation and data protection claim brought by the actor Noel Clarke, following a six week trial (Clarke v GNM [2025] EWHC 2193 (KB)) and acting for Associated Newspapers in its successful defence at trial of privacy and breach of confidence claims brought by Baroness Doreen Lawrence and others (Lawrence & Ors v ANL [2026] EWHC 1637 (KB)). While the majority of his practice is in the High Court, Ben has experience representing clients across the courts and tribunals, including in urgent applications for injunctions or reporting restrictions.
Ben is a co-author of the 6th edition of Duncan & Neill on Defamation and Other Media and Communications Claims, and has contributed to a number of leading texts including The Law of Privacy and the Media, and Arlidge, Eady and Smith on Contempt of Court.
Ben is an experienced defamation junior, having appeared led and unled in a number of high-profile cases. Recent work includes acting for the Guardian in defence of libel proceedings brought by the actor and director Noel Clarke (Clarke v GNM [2025] EWHC 2193 (KB)), and for the BBC in ongoing litigation brought by the founders of “One Taste” (Daedone & Ors v BBC).
In which Ben was instructed as sole counsel for GNM at the trial of preliminary issue.
Ben was junior counsel for the Guardian in the successful defence of this libel and data protection claim (with Alex Marzec and Gavin Millar KC) and appeared throughout the interlocutory hearings, in the Court of Appeal and at trial.
Ben was counsel for ITV in the successful defence of this libel claim.
In which Ben appeared unled at the trial of preliminary issue for the publisher of Guido Fawkes.
In which Ben appeared for the defendant unled.
In which Ben acted (led by Andrew Caldecott KC) in the successful defence of libel proceedings brought by the Duke of Sussex against the Mail on Sunday.
In which Ben appeared (led by Adrienne Page KC) for the successful defendant, the publisher of the Mirror, at trial and throughout.
Ben has an established practice as a privacy junior in cases involving the media and elsewhere.
Acted for Associated Newspapers in its successful defence, at trial, of these high profile privacy and breach of confidence claims
Acted for the BBC in defence of the privacy claim.
Acted with Andrew Caldecott KC, for the Media Lawyers Association in its application to intervene before the Supreme Court.
Ben has extensive experience in claims involving breach of confidence, in cases involving the media and otherwise. He is often instructed to advise or act in connection with applications for injunctive relief and has experience of arbitration in cases involving breach of commercial confidences.
Ben has experience of the full spectrum of data protection and related information law disputes, in addition to his core practice involving cases against the media and is often called to provide advice in non-contentious matters.
Ben has also been instructed in a number of cybersecurity cases where injunctive relief is sought or considered following ransomware or related incidents.
Ben was junior counsel for Associated in the Court of Appeal in this data protection unfairness claim.
Acting for the publishers of the Wall Street Journal in significant right to be forgotten litigation.
Ben has acted in a broad spectrum of injunction proceedings, for both claimants and defendants, in cases where urgent relief is sought.
Acting for the claimant in ransomware proceedings.
Ben provides pre-publication advice in complex or challenging matters where litigation may follow and is regularly instructed by broadcasters and newspaper and book publishers.
Ben is (with John Stables) the author of the media regulation chapter – the only one of its kind – in The Law of Privacy and Experience and brings a wealth of experience in media regulatory matters having previously been Head of Complaints at the Independent Press Standards Organisation.
Ben regularly appears in contentious reporting restrictions matters, on behalf of applicants for restrictions and those (most often the media) resisting. Recent work includes appearing at the Old Bailey on behalf of a number of news publishers and successfully resisting an application for anonymity and reporting restrictions at the Inquest touching on the death of Sara Sharif.
Appearing at the Old Bailey on behalf of a number of news publishers
Acting for the Media Lawyers Association in the leading case on privacy for interim relief applications in the Employment Tribunal.
A successful application to discharge a s.(4)(2) postponement order.
Acting for a number of media organisations in a successful application for letters of reference written by an MP to the Crown Court Judge who sentenced her son for drugs offences.
Acting for the local authority in proceedings concerning British orphans in Syria.
For more information
For more information or to instruct Ben please get in touch with our clerking team, who can deal with your enquiry and provide any required information: