Jeff Smele

Jeff joins Reviewed and Cleared with more than 20 years’ experience as a specialist solicitor acting for the publishers of news and nonfiction content. He headed Simons Muirhead Burton’s top ranked media litigation team, representing major news organisations, print and online publishers, and other media companies. He has represented media defendants in litigation (fighting High Court libel trials, resisting urgent privacy injunctions and requests for source or journalistic material, etc), and advised a roster of clients on complex pre-publication/broadcast issues.

Jeff has dealt with the whole range of contentious media law issues over his career and brings extensive litigation experience, allowing him to give realistic advice on publication risk, strategic decisions and likely outcomes. He helps clients undertake and defend investigations and advises journalists and authors on robust public interest arguments, managing legal threats and attempts to stifle publication. He can immerse himself in reviewing lengthy manuscripts or longform content and is also happy with fast-paced work needing quick judgement, always giving commercial, practical advice. He has advised in newsrooms and police stations, in court or crisis situations, and is experienced in criminal law aspects, from contempt of court to police production orders.

Jeff has been a trusted advisor to high profile media and publishing clients, and he continues this at Reviewed and Cleared. The legal directories have consistently ranked him as a leading lawyer, with feedback saying: ‘He is very switched on and gives sensible advice, often in tricky situations; 'Always thoughtful, with good judgment and attention to detail, as well as being a delight to work with’; ‘Pragmatic, commercial and incredibly knowledgeable. He is a pleasure to work with’; ‘A great thinker, quietly defending free speech in a way that is really effective’.