Gatley on Libel and Slander, 13th Edition (Mainwork + 1st Supplement)

Gatley on Libel and Slander has established itself as the definitive work on defamation law and practice. The 13th edition, published in May 2022, has now been updated with the 1st Supplement published in December 2024

The 13th edition published at a key time. The work has been comprehensively updated and restructured to provide a thorough examination of the Supreme Court decision in Lachaux v Independent Print Ltd – a landmark defamation case addressing the definition of “serious harm” in the Defamation Act 2013.

In addition to providing detailed commentary and expert analysis of the substantive law, it offers comprehensive guidance on the procedural aspects of bringing an action. This advice is complemented with example forms and precedents for issuing proceedings and summaries of key damages awards, making it both a practical and authoritative reference.

Key Features of the 13th edition:

• The authority on the law of defamation with expert analysis of the law and all significant developments in libel and slander, malicious falsehood and privacy.
• Detailed coverage of the relevant procedure for practising defamation law – serving as a one-stop reference at every stage of an action.
• Examines the defamatory statement including slanders actionable, publication, identifying the person defamed and addresses the question: who may sue or be sued?
• Looks at the various available remedies including compensatory, aggravated and exemplary damages.
• Commentary on related causes of action such as malicious falsehood, misuse of private information and other causes arising from statements.
• Explores available defences with discussion of honest comment, absolute and qualified privilege, publication in public interest and more.
• Comprehensive examination of the procedure for bringing an action from interim injunctions and particulars of claim to counterclaims, apologies, the trial and appeals.
• Relevant cases from other jurisdictions with commentary on their relevance to UK law and procedure, including decisions from Canada, Australia and New Zealand.
• Discusses the jurisprudence of the European Court of Human Rights and the continuing effect of the Human Rights Act on defamation law.
• Provides forms and precedents for issuing proceedings, statements of case and settlement and reproduces relevant excerpts of key statutes.
• Includes an appendix with summaries of important libel awards.