Lily Walker-Parr
Call: 2018
Call: 2018
Lily Walker-Parr acts for Claimants and Defendants across chambers’ key practice areas and has appeared in the Supreme Court, Court of Appeal, High Court and County Court. She has experience of trials, appellate work, injunctions, mediations and complex interlocutory hearings. Notably, she has appeared unled in two defamation trials in the High Court.
Lily also regularly provides pre-publication legal and regulatory advice in respect of print, broadcast and social media. Her clients include leading publishing houses, newspapers, broadcasters, academic journals, and PR for companies, public figures and celebrities.
Lily is currently ranked as Band 4 for Defamation and Privacy in the Chambers & Partners UK Bar Guide.
Lily is frequently instructed to advise in respect of defamation claims, several of which have either settled at an early stage or concluded following successful applications to strike out the claims at an early stage due to procedural irregularities.
Trial of Preliminary Issues on meaning in respect of an article published in The Sun newspaper about the claimant, the ex-husband of singer Mel B (for C, led by Gervase de Wilde).
Following a two-day libel trial concerning TikTok videos alleging racism, victimisation and harassment, the High Court awarded the claimant £55,000 in damages, including aggravated damages and a Part 36 uplift. The court found that the defendant was responsible for videos published on two TikTok accounts, notwithstanding one profile was hidden behind a pseudonym; held that the publications caused serious reputational harm; and rejected the defendant’s truth defences. Indemnity costs were awarded from expiry of the relevant period (for C (unled)).
Advised in respect of a significant claim for harassment, MPI and defamation concerning allegations that a student had committed exam misconduct, which resulted in settlement (for D, led by Adam Speker KC).
A libel claim concerning several employment references was struck out (with costs) on several bases, including limitation, pleading deficiencies, and as matters which should be determined by the Employment Tribunal and not the High Court, as they fell within the ‘Johnson Exclusionary Area’ (for C (unled)).
Three-day libel trial concerning an allegation that the Claimant tried to make the Defendant (her widowed daughter-in-law) homeless, continually told lies about her, and consequently caused her to be ostracised in her local community. An application was also made at trial to strike out parts of the truth defence on the basis of res judicata and abuse of process (for C (unled), judgment outstanding).
Obtained permission to serve a libel claim outside the jurisdiction, in Ghana, under CPR rr.6.36 and 6.38, and s.9 of the Defamation Act 2013 (for C).
Statement in Open Court read following settlement of a libel claim involving serious allegations made in a Facebook post (for C (unled)).
An appeal regarding the application of the lis pendens provisions of the Lugano Convention in personality rights claims, where the defendant applies for Negative Declaratory Relief in another signatory state (for C/A, with Greg Callus and led by Adam Wolanski KC).
A Twitter libel claim which considered the jurisdiction provisions in s.9 of the Defamation Act 2013 (for C, led by Adam Wolanski KC).
Advised in respect of a significant claim for harassment, MPI and defamation concerning allegations that a student had committed exam misconduct, which resulted in settlement (for D, led by Adam Speker KC).
Acted for a former prisoner in a MPI and data protection claim against his former prison officer, concerning the publication of various YouTube videos and a book which contained his private information and special category data, including data concerning his mental health (for C).
Advised in respect of a claim for MPI and harassment concerning alleged threats by D to disclose C’s private information. An ex-parte interim injunction had already been granted but the case settled before the return hearing. This was a complex matter, as the unusual terms of the interim Order risked engaging D’s privilege against self-incrimination, in circumstances where there were live parallel criminal proceedings (for D).
Acting for Mirror Group Newspapers (D) in claims brought by numerous celebrities and other individuals concerning accusations of unlawful news-gathering activities, including voicemail interception and blagging.
Settlement following a claim for breach of a Non-Disclosure Agreement against the Claimant’s ex-husband, Sir Elton John (for C, led by Adam Wolanski KC).
Obtained a data breach injunction and anonymity order for the claimant company following the disclosure online of stolen data and threats of blackmail (for C, led by Adam Speker KC).
Lily is regularly instructed by defendants to deal with small data breach claims (often involving several causes of action).
Acted for a defendant insurance company in a low value data breach claim which had been wrongly issued in the Money Claims Online Service and in which judgment in default had been wrongly entered for the claimant. The defendant obtained an urgent stay of execution and subsequently struck out the claim, with costs (a departure from the ‘no costs’ regime on the Small Claims Track) (for C (unled)).
Appeared at the case management hearing in a claim for data protection, misuse of private information and breach of confidence. Nicklin J set down guidance for allocation and pleading low value data breach claims with overlapping causes of action (for C (unled)).
Acted for the Claimant company in an urgent data breach injunction including allegations of blackmail (for C, led by Adam Speker KC).
Advised in respect of a significant claim for harassment, MPI and defamation concerning allegations that a student had committed exam misconduct, which resulted in settlement (for D, led by Adam Speker KC).
Advised in respect of two related claims for harassment, defamation and data protection concerning the publication online of serious allegations of criminal wrongdoing about a businessman, which resulted in settlement (for C, led by Adam Speker KC with Jonathan Scherbel Ball).
Advised in respect of a claim for MPI and harassment concerning alleged threats by D to disclose C’s private information. An ex-parte interim injunction had already been granted but the case settled before the return hearing. This was a complex matter, as the unusual terms of the interim Order risked engaging D’s privilege against self-incrimination, in circumstances where there were live parallel criminal proceedings (for D).
Lily has significant experience advising publishers on a pre-publication basis, including:
Partially successful appeal against a decision to lift a reporting restriction in the Court of Protection, in proceedings concerning one of the UK’s wealthiest families (for A (as media law counsel), with Sam Chandler and led by David Rees KC of 5 Stone Buildings).
For more information
For more information or to instruct Lily please get in touch with our clerking team, who can deal with your enquiry and provide any required information:
Lily regularly hosts training seminars for media lawyers and journalists and contributes to industry publications and textbooks on issues concerning media law.
Recent publications include: