Julian Pike

Partner

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Practice areas

Reputation Management

Julian’s reputation management practice is very highly-regarded and benefits from his specialist expertise in the sports sector, where he acts for a host of national governing bodies, household name clubs and high-profile sports men and women.

Julian advises individuals, corporate institutions and charities across a range of industry sectors on all aspects of reputation management. Working almost exclusively with claimants, he acts for individuals and organisations that find themselves the subject of unwanted attention, whether from mainstream, online or broadcast media, or in some instances, obsessed or campaigning individuals.

Whether responding to cyber breaches or tracking data that has been dispersed electronically, there is a digital element to much of Julian’s work and he works closely alongside cyber monitoring and computer forensic experts to ensure a successful outcome for his clients. With more than twenty-five years’ experience in the field, Julian takes a holistic and proactive view to securing his clients' long-term interests and works in tandem with them to agree the right strategy. Where necessary, he connects clients with his formidable network of specialist public relations and media advisers.

Julian acts for clients in a range of situations where they could be at risk of reputational harm. For example, he helps them to plan for potential crises and issues as well as dealing with those issues as they arise. These vary from adverse media coverage to right to be forgotten cases to preparing for select committee appearances.

Julian has developed a significant expertise in the sports sector, acting for national governing bodies, major sports clubs and commercial sports businesses, high-profile sports men and women, their agents and advisers. His practice covers reputation management, contractual and regulatory disputes and handling a range of legal challenges brought against, or by, his sports clients. He is particularly experienced in advising on governance, disciplinary and integrity issues and has worked closely with clients on implementing the requirements of UK Sport’s Code for Sports Governance.

He is regularly invited to speak at industry events, to write articles, and has been the author of a number of book chapters.

Julian qualified as a solicitor in 1992.

Sports

Julian acts for a wide range of national governing bodies including the Football Association and the Lawn Tennis Association. He also represents high-profile sports professionals and commercial clubs, including football and golf clubs. His advice spans litigation, general disputes and regulatory work and he has particular experience advising on issues linked to governance, safeguarding and integrity.

Reputation Management

Julian advises individuals and organisations with respect to defamation, privacy, harassment, injunctions, copyright, contempt and reporting restrictions pre- and post-publication. He acts across print, broadcast and online platforms, and advises on media regulatory issues in relation to IPSO, OFCOM and the ASA.

Memberships & Accolades

Julian is listed as a Top recommended 2020, Reputation Manager lawyer in Spear's 500 Magazine 2021 edition.

Testimonials

"We mainly instruct Julian Pike who is the best in the field – in my view – for reputational management, crisis management, defamation etc." (Legal 500 2024)

"Julian Pike is always available and gives spot-on pragmatic, comprehensive and business oriented advice. He has huge respect in the media." (Legal 500 2024)

"Julian Pike has done exceptionally well to build the media department into what it is today – I have observed him in conversation with clients and seen how trusted he is by them. He gives very sensible but positive advice." (Legal 500 2024)

"Julian Pike is a highly respected, trusted and experienced adviser with a long and distinguished record of reputation management. He is calm, fair, but also direct in his assessments of clients’ challenges." (Legal 500 2024)

"Julian is an extremely experienced, wise adviser to clients." (Chambers UK 2024)

"He is very experienced and considered in his counsel. He is a reassuring presence for clients in a crisis." (Chambers UK 2024)

"Julian is very well connected and his responsiveness is amazing. He gets to the point and gives really good, practical advice." (Chambers UK 2024)

"Julian is very supportive and responsive." (Chambers UK 2024)

"Julian Pike is a great lawyer who is always on the ball with a wonderful 'bedside manner'." (Chambers HNW 2023)

"Julian Pike is very good with clients, very reassuring and very experienced on the defendant side." (Chambers HNW 2023)

"Julian Pike is hugely experienced, robust and gives very practical advice." (Chambers HNW 2023)

"Julian Pike is first-rate, hugely experienced and gives excellent counsel in complex situations." (Chambers HNW 2023)

"Julian Pike – hugely experienced...Charming to work with and delivers first rate advice. A pleasure to work with." (Legal 500 2023)

"He is the most responsive, knowledgeable and commercial and business-minded lawyer." (Chambers UK 2023)

"Julian Pike is one of the UK's leading reputation management lawyers." (Legal 500 2023)

"Julian Pike is truly excellent and charming with clients" (Legal 500 2023)

"Julian Pike is excellent in all aspects of sport, particularly with issues around reputational management." (Legal 500 2023)

"Julian is the most responsive, knowledgeable and commercial and business-minded lawyer, and his judgement is always spot-on." (Chambers HNW 2022)
Julian is ranked in Band 2 for Defamation/ Reputation Management in the Chambers High Net Worth Guide 2021 and Band 3 in the Chambers UK 2022 Guide.

"His ability to dissect the problem and put our case forward was the best I had ever seen in many years of legal fights." (Chambers UK 2022)

"He is very helpful, knowledgeable and practical." (Chambers UK 2022)

"He is a very reassuring, trusting and calming presence, who understands what the client wants." (Chambers UK 2022)

"He is very responsive and can get on board really quickly, and very good at getting his head around highly complex and challenging issues." (Chambers UK 2022)

"Julian has a formidable reputation justified by a depth of insight into the problems of reputation management born out of long experience working for and on the other side from national publications. He has taken to the cyber world with commendable foresight and provides pragmatic and sensible advice recognising the interconnected world in which we now operate." (Chambers HNW 2021)

"Julian is personable to work with and does high-quality work." (Chambers HNW 2021)

"A very capable and experienced practitioner whose media law advice and counsel is invaluable." (Chambers UK 2021)

"He knows the industry so well and is so experienced and responsive. He's an expert in this field and I have complete trust and faith in him." (Chambers UK 2021)

Julian is listed as a leading individual for Reputation Management in the Legal 500 UK 2022 Guide.

"Julian Pike – hugely experienced. Unlikely to find an issue he hasn’t encountered before. Very reassuring to clients." (Legal 500 2022)

"Julian Pike is standout. He has an ability to make you feel one of the team and offer first-class advice without corporate arrogance." (Legal 500 2022)

"Julian Pike is highly experienced, thoughtful, articulate, confident, knowledgeable, very perceptive and personable, and always willing to work long and unsocial hours as required." (Legal 500 2021)

"Julian Pike is a standout operator. He understands what is realistically achievable for the client and with a compassionate approach helps get them there." (Legal 500 2021)

"Very savvy in the context of reputation management, prepared to be tough when necessary, straight with the client about the strengths and weaknesses of their case. Julian Pike is clearly very experienced and an expert in this field." (Legal 500 2021)

"Julian is a lawyer you want on your team. He is extremely responsive, even on a weekend, and will turn around large pieces of advice on short notice. In the field of reputation management for high net worth individuals, this responsiveness is critical." (Chambers HNW 2020)