Rupert Cowper-Coles
Partner
Rupert Cowper-Coles is an experienced media and content litigator who leads RPC's market-leading media defence team.
Rupert is experienced in litigating complex and developing areas of law, including strike-out applications relating to abusive or 'strategic' litigation, jurisdiction challenges, intermediary liability and 'safe harbour' defences, open justice issues and the exercise of GDPR data rights.
Rupert is the Law Society's appointed expert to the CCBE (Council of Bars and Law Societies of Europe) on 'SLAPPs' and gave evidence to the House of Commons Justice Select Committee on the issue. He also co-chairs RPC's online safety and regulation group and regularly advises on the UK's new Online Safety Act and related legislation.
Relevant work
- Gotti v Holland (2024) – strike-out of harassment proceedings brought by a cosmetic surgery clinic Signature Medical Limited against a patient over comments on a recovery support group.
- Wright v McCormack [2023] EWCA Civ 892– acting for D in the Court of Appeal in dismissal of an appeal over a £1 nominal damages award in favour of a claimant whose defamation claims were found to have been supported by false evidence.
- Hinduja v Hinduja [2022] EWCA Civ 1492 – open justice intervention on behalf of Bloomberg News to lift reporting restrictions allowing reporting of acrimonious Court of Protection proceedings between members of Britain's wealthiest family.
- (1) Kumlin (2) EEW Eco Energy World plc v (1) Jonsson (2) Agermanm (3) Ostlund (4) Realtd Media AB [2022] EWHC 1095 – jurisdiction challenge of a defamation claim brought by a Swedish national over eight Swedish language online articles.
- Mahmudov & Mahmudova v Sanzberro & ors. [2021] EWHC 3433 (QB) - acting for the media Ds in challenging jurisdiction to hear a defamation claim brought by the son and daughter of the former head of national security in Azerbaijan.
- 4 New Square Limited v Persons Unknown – interim non-disclosure order application arising out of a cyber-attack.
- Napag Trading & ors. v GEDI Gruppo Editoriale S.p.A. & anor. [2020] EWHC 3034 – acting for an Italian media D in challenging jurisdiction in relation to a defamation claim brought by an Italian national and his English and Italian registered companies.
- (1) BBC (2) PA Media v (1) Secretary of State for Transport (2) British Airline Pilots Association [2019] EWHC 192 – open justice application seeking access to key evidence in criminal proceedings.
- Caine v (1) Advertiser and Times Ltd (2) Curry [2019] EWHC 39 QB – acting for media Ds in an obtaining an Extended Civil Restraint Order against the claimant.
- Irina Bokova v Associated Newspapers Ltd [2018] EWHC 2032 (QB) – acting for D in successfully resisting an application to strike-out a defamation truth defence.
- Optical Express Ltd & ors. v Associated Newspapers Ltd [2017] EWHC 2707 (QB) – acting for D in an application to vary the usual Part 36 consequences after late acceptance.
- Hadi v Rewcastle-Brown (2017 – 2018) – acting for an investigative journalist in defamation proceedings brought by the leader of Malaysia's Islamic party suing over reporting of the 1MDB scandal.
Directory quotes
"He will be an absolute superstar. He works incredibly hard for his clients." – Chambers 2024 (Defamation/Reputation Management – UK-wide)
"Rupert is a smooth operator. He is particularly good on data protection law." – Chambers 2024 (Defamation/Reputation Management – UK-wide)
"He is active in SLAPP work from the defendant perspective. He is championing things for media clients." – Chambers 2024 (Defamation/Reputation Management – UK-wide)
Next Generation Partners – Legal 500 2024 (Reputation Management)
Band 5 – Chambers 2024 (Defamation/Reputation Management – UK-wide)
"Rupert Cowper-Coles is an asset to any case. He is very hard-working, gets on top of the detail, and is brilliant with clients." - Legal 500 2023 (Reputation Management)
"Very good on jurisdictional disputes." – Chambers 2023 (Defamation/Reputation Management – UK-wide)
"He is incredibly thorough, astute, and clients like him." - Chambers UK 2022
"Rupert Cowper-Coles is first class, very bright with top knowledge of the law in this field, and prepared to roll his sleeves up to get into the detail." - The Legal 500 UK 2022
"He's fantastic - really good to deal with and knows the law." - Chambers UK 2021
"He's very understated, thoughtful and very easy to get on with." - Chambers UK 2021
"Rupert Cowper-Coles is a hugely impressive senior associate with notable litigation experience and impeccable judgment. He has a fantastic eye for the sort of detail which wins or loses cases and will surely be a top-flight partner in years to come." - Legal 500 2020
"Rupert Cowper-Coles 'does an amazing job' at handling high-profile defamation cases including privacy and misuse of private information claims." – Legal 500 2020
"He is just incredibly competent. He is very passionate about the law and is very personable." - Chambers UK 2019
"He's a pleasure to work with. He's a really good, analytical lawyer who is charming, good with clients and excellent under pressure." - Chambers UK 2018
Memberships
The Society of Computers and Law (SCL)
UK Anti-SLAPP Coalition