Hanna Basha & Nick Grant—Payne Hicks Beach

Payne Hicks Beach has announced that it has expanded its privacy and media law department. Hanna Basha (pictured) joins as a partner with solicitor Nick Grant.

Hanna is a well-known specialist in defamation, privacy and breach of confidence, with a wealth of expertise in reputation and crisis management. In particular, Hanna advises prominent individuals and corporations to prevent the publication of private, sensitive and confidential information and defamatory allegations in the media. She is highly regarded within her field having acted in a number of landmark defamation and privacy cases—including having previously secured the highest ever damages award in an ‘offer of amends’ case.

Hanna and Nick will further strengthen a busy privacy & media law team at Payne Hicks Beach led by partners Sarah Webb and Dominic Crossley. The team is known for advising high-profile individuals who are subject to unwanted media attention together with its work for corporate and publishing clients. In addition to handling significant media litigation, the team also provides pre-publication assistance and advice to prevent or limit the consequences for those targeted by the mainstream media or via the internet and social media platforms.   

Hanna comments: 'This is an exciting move for me. Payne Hicks Beach has a strong dispute resolution practice and is known for its leading privacy and media offering. I look forward to working closely with Dominic Crossley and Sarah Webb to meet the demands of our growing client base.'

Alastair Murdie, senior partner, comments on the new appointments: 'It is a great pleasure to welcome both Hanna and Nick to the firm—whose expertise will complement and strengthen our expert offering. Their appointments are consistent with the strategic growth of our privacy and media department to meet mounting client demands in a 24 hour media environment.'