Hanna Basha

Hanna graduated from Warwick University with a 2i BA Hons in Philosophy and completed the LPC and CPE at the College of Law. She trained at Denton Wilde Sapte, moving to Schillings in September 2000 and to Carter-Ruck in February 2002. Hanna became a partner in 2006 and, in the same year, qualified as a solicitor-advocate.

Hanna specialises in defamation, privacy, breach of confidence, and other media litigation. She acts for a wide range of clients including celebrities, high profile individuals, businessmen, sportsmen, football clubs and corporations attracting media scrutiny. As well as representing clients in court, she provides legal and practical reputation and crisis management advice when clients are faced with more extensive press attention, working closely with external and in-house public relations advisers.

Hanna has stopped many newspaper articles from being published, which would otherwise have disclosed private information about high profile clients. Where necessary, she has applied to court, often on an emergency basis, for injunctions to prevent unwanted publication of private information. She has also acted for well-known individuals in privacy litigation, much of which is subject to court orders to provide her clients with anonymity or to prevent the litigation being reported.

Hanna has also successfully sued over many articles containing defamatory allegations, often negotiating favourable settlements for her clients, including substantial damages and timely and prominent apologies. Where settlements were not achievable she has run matters to trial, winning Ben Wood's libel action against the West Midlands Police and, with Alasdair Pepper, Ken Bates' libel action against the Evening Standard.

Recent work includes winning £175,000, the highest ever award under the 'offer of amends' procedure, for Muhamed Veliu in July 2006. Also in July 2006 she successfully resisted an interim injunction brought by Sunderland Housing Company against her clients over allegations published on a website. Earlier that year she, together with Nigel Tait, received £100,000 in libel damages from the Daily Mail for Sir Elton John in an out of court settlement.

Before becoming a partner at Carter-Ruck, Hanna was one of few assistants to be listed in Chambers and Partners as an 'up and coming individual' and was described as having "an instinctive feel for defamation law".

Contact Details

Email: Hanna Basha