Buying Silence: How Oligarchs, Corporations and Plutocrats Use the Law to Gag Their Critics

Strategic Lawsuits Against Public Participation, or SLAPPs, are designed to censor, intimidate and silence critics of the powerful and wealthy by burdening them with aggressive opposing lawyers, heavy legal costs and deeply intrusive - and sometimes illegal - private investigations until they abandon the case. The UK has the unenviable accolade of being the number one destination for such cases. Billionaire oligarchs, often ex-convicts and linked to organised crime, come here to launder their reputations through suing for libel - even when what’s been written about them is entirely true. Even worse, more often than not they either win their cases or scare their opponents into self-censorship, in a devastating blow to investigative journalism, media freedom and the public interest. In this timely, insightful and often shocking book, David Hooper, veteran media lawyer, explores how the power of money enables the very wealthy - including Robert Maxwell, Nadhim Zahawi and McDonald’s - to crush their critics through SLAPP tactics. From billionaire oligarchs to powerful corporations, from corrupt politicians to super-rich businesspeople, Hooper c how those with something to hide tried to stop you knowing about it, how their lawyers were willing to help them and - most importantly - what the government urgently needs to do to stop them.

David Hooper is a leading media lawyer, having worked with publishers and newspapers in the UK and the US. He has represented a President, a Prime Minister, MPs, authors, journalists, academics, sportsmen, actors, film directors, doctors and industrialists but always acts against rather than for oligarchs. His previous works include Public Scandal, Odium and Contempt, Official Secrets: The Use and Abuse of the Act and Reputations Under Fire: Winners and Losers in the Libel Business. He lives in Monmouthshire, Wales.