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Emma Woollcott

Emma Woollcott

Partner, Head of Reputation Protection and Crisis Management

Personal Profile

Emma is a Partner in Mishcon Private and Head of the Reputation Protection and Crisis Management group. She advises individuals, companies and charities on defamation, breach of confidence, invasion of privacy, harassment and data protection concerns. She is particularly adept in digital technology and online publications, often advising in times of crisis and in the context of wider disputes. Emma provides claimants and defendants with pre- and post-publication advice, including obtaining, defending and discharging injunctions. Her clients span a wide range of geographies and industries, including media and entertainment, technology, financial services, politics, publishing, art, property, sport, fashion, education and the charity sector. She regularly trains journalists and PR and other professional advisors on publication concerns. Emma takes a holistic approach to Reputation Protection, encouraging clients to prepare in advance for potential challenges, and effectively mitigating any damage caused by negative publicity.

She has experience of commercial litigation in a range of forums, often acting for international clients in complex disputes. Emma also has experience working with charities, providing strategic focus to their campaigns and their dealings with government.

Emma won Reputation Lawyer of the Year 2025 in the Spears Wealth Management Awards, and was commended for her empathetic leadership, and the innovation and future-focus of her practice. She is recognised as a trusted advisor in Chambers & Partners and the Legal 500, and was included in Management Today's 35 Women Under 35. 

An accredited Executive Coach, Emma is committed to supporting diverse talent to thrive.  She founded Mishcon’s Pride Network and has been profiled in numerous Pride Power lists. Emma set up the firm's sponsorship of Pink Law, a pro bono legal advice service for the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgendered community. Emma was a founding trustee of Action Breaks Silence, a charity that is working internationally to tackle gender-based violence, and served as a co-opted trustee of Switchboard, the national LGBTQIA+ support line. 

Key Experience

  • Obtaining urgent High Court injunctions to prevent the misuse of private and confidential information, including in the context of blackmail threats and harassment
  • Pre-publication advice to a range of media and online publications, managing the risk that sensitive content may be challenged
  • Challenging content published online and obtaining disclosure from international webhosts and internet and email service providers, in order to identify anonymous / malicious posters.
  • Advising a leading national professional services firm in relation to defamatory statements made by a competitor to several of its mutual clients, which statements were repeated on blogs and online discussion forums
  • Preventing the publication of false rumors about a world-renowned sports person, which would have had a devastating impact on his brand
  • Advising a national religious forum in relation to defamatory statements made about it on the internet and anticipated in a forthcoming book
  • Acting for a high-ranking police officer in relation to defamatory allegations made against him in the national press and online

Career History

Partner, Mishcon de Reya LLP
Legal Director, Mishcon de Reya LLP
Associate, Mishcon de Reya
Solicitor, Mishcon de Reya
Solicitor, Addleshaw Goddard LLP
Qualified, Clifford Chance LLP
Trainee, Clifford Chance LLP
Jesus College, Cambridge. Law MA (Hons)

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