Oliver Lock

Senior Associate

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Practice areas

Reputation Management
Data, IP and Technology Disputes

Oliver provides bespoke and innovative reputation management advice to high-profile individuals, family offices, charities, corporations and executives. He has particular expertise advising those in the entertainment industry and luxury brands sector on how to manage and respond to sensitive issues where there is a reputational risk.

While the role of a reputation management lawyer encompasses the traditional battle with the print media, Oliver sees his role as offering wide-ranging, pragmatic and commercial advice across all the risks that can threaten a client's reputation as well as helping to put in place preventative steps before a crisis erupts.

Oliver's experience includes privacy and defamation, contentious intellectual property law, harassment, blackmail, cyber security and general crisis planning. He has particular experience of advising those in the film, television and theatre industry who are the subject of unwanted attention whether from the mainstream media, online attacks, paparazzi or obsessed individuals.

Clients appreciate Oliver's clear and assertive communication style as well as his reassuring, friendly and proactive approach to what is often a highly sensitive and stressful time for the client.

Expertise

Individuals & Families

Oliver regularly advises clients on both sides of the Atlantic on all aspects of protecting their reputation, including injunctions and social media takedowns.

Private Businesses

Oliver has acted for a number of unique private business, entrepreneurs and family offices and is able to provide them with commercial, pragmatic and cost-effective advice.

Membership & Accolades

Oliver spent two months on secondment in the entertainment department at Greenberg Glusker, a law firm based in Los Angeles. He has also spent time in-house on secondment with the PGA European Tour.

Oliver is a member of the Beverly Hills Bar Association, the London Solicitors Litigation Association and the City of Westminster and Holborn Law Society.

Work Highlights

Recent work highlights include:

Advising a high-profile British actor on all aspects of his privacy, from protecting him from paparazzi to putting in place a number of confidentiality agreements
Acting for the estate of a well-known US-based musician in a dispute with a record label in respect of unpaid royalties
Acting for a high-profile private company that was the subject of a defamatory campaign in a tabloid newspaper; and
Acting for an individual who was the victim of a "revenge porn" attack.

Testimonials

"Oliver is extremely knowledgeable and professional, but also genuinely kind and caring." (Chambers HNW 2024)

"I cannot fault Oliver. His client service and general level of service, level of sophistication and commercial awareness and vision are very strong." (Client)

“Oliver did an excellent job. He grasped the issues swiftly, communicated clearly, was empathetic, and worked quickly and efficiently under some time pressure. I would be delighted to recommend him to others.” (Client)

“There couldn’t have been a better result and I really appreciate how incredibly swiftly and soundly this has all been handled esp as you were away on holiday for a chunk of it. Thank you, your judgement is second to none.” (Client)

Media, Publications & Talks

Oliver is frequently quoted in the national and legal media, including most recently being interviewed by Joshua Rozenberg in BBC Radio 4’s "Law in Action".

Oliver also writes regularly on media, privacy and entertainment matters for a range of publications. Recent publications include:

The Financial Times: “Media groups look to AI tools to cut costs and complement storytelling”
The Times: “NatWest shut my £1.4m business bank account with no explanation”
The Times: “How the law could address deepfakes and disinformation in politics”
City AM: “We can’t wait for Big Tech to monitor deepfakes, it’s on us to decipher what is real”
City AM: “‘Election bot takeover’: Could you tell a real Rishi from a fake?”
Broadcast: "The legal issues surrounding deepfakes & AI content"
New Law Journal: "Deepfakes: can’t believe your eyes?"
Law Society Gazette: "Ahead of the algorithms: deepfakes and the law"
The Legal Diary: "With the number of deepfakes only growing, could the law turn the tide? asks Oliver Lock"
Music & Copyright: "Defence does pay off: copyright lawsuits in the music industry"
Music Ally: "'22 million songs a year, and only 12 notes available' – pursuing a copyright claim in the music industry today"

Recent speaking engagements include chairing a panel on ‘international perspectives on privacy protections for high-profile individuals’ for the STEP Laguna Beach conference and also presenting to the Beverly Hills Bar Association on "English privacy and defamation law".