24/7 Advice: 0141 439 1990 | Out of Hours: 07802 884830
Defamation Solicitors in Scotland
Practice Areas
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Protecting Your Reputation
A false or damaging statement can do lasting harm to your reputation, career and business, particularly when it spreads online. PBW Law advises individuals, businesses and public figures across Scotland on defamation and reputation matters, whether you need to stop a damaging publication, pursue a claim, or respond to a claim made against you.
Professor Peter Watson, Solicitor Advocate, has built his practice around some of the most sensitive media and reputation cases in the UK, bringing calm, strategic counsel to clients facing damaging or false publicity. Defamation in Scotland is now governed by the Defamation and Malicious Publication (Scotland) Act 2021, which came into force on 8 August 2022, and we advise on the law as it now stands.
How Defamation Law Works in Scotland
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Serious harm — a statement is only actionable if it has caused, or is likely to cause, serious harm to your reputation. For a business that trades for profit, that means serious financial loss.
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No libel or slander — unlike England and Wales, Scots law makes no distinction between written and spoken statements. Both are simply defamation.
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Who can be sued — claims can generally only be brought against the author, editor or publisher of a statement. Simply sharing or liking a post online will not usually create liability, unless it materially increases the harm.
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Defences — the main statutory defences are truth, publication on a matter of public interest, and honest opinion.
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Time limit — a defamation action must generally be raised within one year of the statement being published.
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Remedies — the court can award damages, grant interdict to stop further publication, order a summary of its judgment to be published and require a statement to be removed. A publisher can also make an offer to make amends.
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Malicious publication — separate claims may be available for false and malicious statements that cause financial loss, such as statements damaging business interests or casting doubt on title to property.
How PBW Law Helps
Defamation cases move quickly and often play out under public and media scrutiny. We advise clients who need to act fast — securing corrections and the removal of content, seeking interdict, managing press coverage or pursuing a formal claim — while protecting their wider reputation throughout. We also advise authors, publishers and organisations before publication, and defend those facing a defamation claim.
Discretion is central to our approach. Many reputation matters are best resolved quickly and quietly, and we will always consider whether a letter, a correction or a negotiated outcome will achieve more than litigation.
Frequently Asked Questions
How long do I have to raise a defamation claim in Scotland?
Generally one year from the date the statement was published. Because the time limit is short, you should seek advice promptly.
Can I stop a defamatory statement being published or shared?
In some cases, yes. The court can grant interdict, including interim interdict at short notice, to prevent publication or further publication, and can order that a statement be removed. Whether this is appropriate depends on the facts, and early action is often critical.
What is the difference between libel and slander in Scotland?
There is none. Scots law treats written and spoken statements in the same way, and both are covered by the law of defamation.
Can a business bring a defamation claim?
Yes, but a business that trades for profit must show that the statement has caused, or is likely to cause, it serious financial loss. Public authorities cannot bring defamation proceedings.
If your reputation is under threat, or you have received a complaint about something you have published, call us on 0141 439 1990. Out of hours, call 07802 884830.