Andrew Willan
Partner
Andrew specialises in reputation management. His work covers all aspects of media law, including defamation, confidence, privacy, harassment, data protection and intellectual property rights. His background as a commercial litigator means that he also has considerable expertise in high value disputes and cases, particularly those involving civil fraud and cybersecurity.
The nature of Andrew’s work is often confidential, however recent reported cases include Max Mosley v Google Inc and Hourani v Thomson & others. He has particular expertise in the evolving field of cyber and privacy law, representing victims of highly sophisticated cyber-attacks and privacy intrusions in some of the most significant and ground-breaking cases in this jurisdiction. Andrew also has considerable recent experience in areas relating to the protection, regulation and disclosure of information, including in the context of the GDPR, Data Protection Act 2018 and claims under the Norwich Pharmacal jurisdiction.
The Legal 500 UK has listed Andrew for many years as a “Recommended Lawyer” and he was ranked in the The Legal 500 UK 2021 law directory in the field of Reputation Management as a ‘Rising star’ and is noted as having “far more experience than most lawyers of his age. He has great judgement and an unflappable temperament.”
Andrew writes numerous articles and contributions in the national and legal press, and gives conferences on a wide range of legal issues relating to media and privacy law.
Andrew read French and Italian at Durham University. He qualified in 2013 and joined Payne Hicks Beach in 2011. He was promoted to senior associate in 2018 and partner in 2020.
Chambers UK Guide 2025 ranks Andrew Willan as ‘Up and Coming’ for ‘Defamation/Reputation Management: High Net Worth (UK-wide)’.
Andrew is also recognised as a “Recommended Reputation & Privacy Lawyer” in the Spear’s 500 2024 and Spear’s Reputation Lawyers Index 2024.
The Legal 500 UK 2025 ranks Andrew Willan as a ‘Next Generation Partner’ for the ‘Reputation Management’ category.
Andrew is ranked as “Up and Coming” in Chambers HNW 2023 for Defamation Reputation Management: High Net Worth with the directory highlighting his “background in commercial litigation with expertise which includes defamation, privacy harassment and data protection work.”
Comments in Chambers include:
“a real trusted adviser who is very sensible and gives pragmatic advice. Willan has the judgement and insight to advise not just on the letter of the law” Chambers HNW 2022
“Andrew Willan is great, a really clever guy.” Chambers UK 2023
Comments in The Legal 500 UK include:
“Andrew Willan is a superb partner who gets on top of his cases and provides excellent and carefully judged advice across the board.” The Legal 500 UK 2023
“Andrew Willan – Excellent understanding of the law and how to use it to best protect client’s interests. Very good at drafting compelling correspondence.” The Legal 500 UK 2023
“Andrew Willan has far more experience than most lawyers of his age. He has great judgement and an unflappable temperament.” The Legal 500 UK 2021
