Michael Gardner
- Partner
- IP & Commercial
Partner quoted in Law360 on Anti-SLAPP Bills
Michael Gardner has been quoted in a recent Law360 article examining the delayed progress of anti-SLAPP legislation in the UK.
The piece explores two new private members’ bills introduced in the House of Commons and the House of Lords, aimed at strengthening protections against strategic lawsuits against public participation (SLAPPs), which are often used to silence or intimidate critics through costly legal action.
The renewed legislative effort follows earlier reform proposals that failed to progress before the dissolution of Parliament in 2024. While there has been broad cross-party support for addressing SLAPPs, the absence of concrete measures in the most recent King’s Speech has highlighted the challenges of moving reform forward.
While the intention behind anti-SLAPP legislation is to prevent such abuses, he highlights the inherent difficulty in designing measures that curb misuse of the legal system without undermining fundamental principles such as access to justice.
Michael points to previous reforms to libel law, including the introduction of the “serious financial harm” threshold, as evidence that meaningful change is possible, though he cautions that striking the right balance remains complex. As the new bills progress, it remains to be seen whether legislators can successfully implement protections that are both effective and proportionate.
Read the full article in Law360 here (£)
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