Spear’s Review

Slateford founder Chris Scott specialises in advising FTSE 100 executives and billionaires who are involved in complex litigation that could affect their reputation. Previously a Schillings partner for 13 years, Scott founded his specialist reputation law firm with the aim of tackling threats from all angles, with an emphasis on ‘investigative lawyering’ and finding solutions to problems at the earliest possible stage.

‘We look at problems holistically, looking at potential outcomes so that people can operate freely while protecting their reputation,’ he tells Spear’s.

Scott notes that as UHNWs are increasingly establishing business interests across the globe, their reputation management should have an international scope. ‘You need to have an international outlook and mindset, and a real openness to working within different environments,’ he says.

Adviser Profile

Chris is the founder of Slateford and specialises in high-stakes legal strategy where law, reputation and covert influence collide. His hallmark is investigative lawyering: uncovering the origin, mechanics and intent behind malign attacks on reputation, then executing strategies to neutralise problems and achieve client objectives.

For two decades, Chris has advised the most interesting people in business under pressure from regulatory scrutiny, disinformation and disputes. His work has frequently involved tracing bad actors behind leaks, smear campaigns or black PR and using the law to expose or dismantle them. He has pioneered Slateford’s unique approach to reputation law – focussed on the causes and impacts of reputation harm – and challenged the limitations of legacy media law tactics.

He frequently acts for significant prominent figures whose ability to operate freely is challenged by hostile tactics, ranging from malicious short seller activity, smear tactics and misuse of information, to regulatory triggers including hostile state actors manipulating international legal measures to disadvantage opponents and dissidents. His client base is predominantly made up of business owners and their commercial interests in fast-growing jurisdictions throughout the world, alongside some of the most celebrated listed businesses in commerce.

His work at Slateford is recognised in countless awards for the firm, including listings in the Private Client Global Elite, nominations at The Lawyer Awards 2025 for both Specialist Law Firm and Boutique Disputes Firm of the Year, the Gold Award for Reputation Management Law Firm of the Year and Crisis Law Firm of the Year.