John Kelly

Spear’s Review

‘Around 90 per cent of our work is preventative,’ says John Kelly, who has been involved in many of his field’s most high-profile cases and developments. Over his long career the Harbottle & Lewis lawyer has represented A-listers and, for Melania Trump, secured one of the largest settlements to go through the UK courts.

Kelly – who specialises in reputation, privacy and defamation law – tells Spear’s that discretion and confidentiality are key. Technology might change the way the game is played, but one tenet of reputation management remains resolute.

‘People think that if you’re in the public eye, it’s access all areas,’ he explains. ‘But the opposite is true. We work with clients to develop safe areas around their homes, children and private lives. It provides enormous comfort to have such sanctuary.’

Rank: Top Flight

Top Flight 2026, Reputation & Privacy Lawyers

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