Gideon Benaim is a Partner and the Head of Simkins’ reputation protection team. He is a highly regarded lawyer specialising in reputation protection for high-profile individuals and companies. He has extensive expertise in the areas of defamation, privacy, harassment, and copyright.
He represents many of the world’s leading companies from a variety of sectors including financial services, energy, tech, food and drink, and television.
Gideon is ranked Band 1 in both the Chambers UK 2025 Guide and the Chambers High Net Worth Guide 2024 for Defamation/Reputation Management. Across the Guides, Gideon is recognised as “the go-to for any reputation management issues” and “an exceptional adviser” with “the perfect mix of dynamism and pragmatism”.
Gideon is also recognised in the Legal 500 UK 2025 in the Reputation Management ‘Hall of Fame’, with the Guide describing him as “a true expert on all facets of reputation law” and praising his “dedication, knowledgeability and enthusiasm to find and deliver the best outcome” for his clients.
Gideon led the team that acted for Sir Cliff Richard in his ground-breaking privacy case against the BBC, which was named ‘Case of the Year’ by Spear’s Wealth. Gideon has represented many high-profile individual and corporate clients including JK Rowling, Naomi Campbell, Roman Polanski, Las Vegas Sands Corp, Gordon Ramsay, and The Law Society. Gideon is recognised as a Top Flight lawyer in the Spear’s 500 Guide 2025.
Gideon sat on The Law Society’s Reference Groups for Libel Reform and Privacy, was on the Civil Justice Council’s Working Party on the draft Defamation Bill, has given evidence to the Joint Committee on Privacy and Injunctions, and has overseen the provision of evidence to the Leveson Inquiry and to several Parliamentary Committees. He has also spoken at the Cambridge and Durham Unions on the issue of reputation protection and the press. He presently sits on the Law Society’s Working Group regarding SLAPPs and is the inaugural Chairperson of the Society of Media Lawyers.
Gideon was awarded ‘Lawyer of the Year (Reputation) 2023’ at the Spear’s Wealth Awards, and has previously featured in The Lawyer’s Hot 100 list and The Times’ ‘Lawyer of the Week’. Gideon received the prestigious award for ‘Partner of the Year’ at the 2008 Lawyer Awards.
If you have a reputation protection issue that requires urgent, out-of-hours advice, please call +44 207874 5757.
High standards, good, transparent communication between team members, excellent understanding of the issues, plus a can-do attitude. Part of the firm’s culture is an awareness of cost, and the farming out of work to the most reasonably-priced resource.
Simkins have an excellent media practice constantly evolving with the changes in our industry.
Every lawyer I have worked with has been friendly, approachable and willing to listen.
Gideon is a superb adviser. A calm and expert voice in a moment of complexity and emotion.
Gideon is one of the best reputation and media lawyers there is. His own reputation precedes him. He is unflinching when it comes to big issues and has an incredible drive.
An outstanding adviser, he is thoughtful and immediately puts clients at ease, all while explaining what is and isn't possible. Gideon is honest and direct while always maintaining a pleasant manner.
Gideon Benaim is superbly knowledgeable and dynamic, a force in this field.
Gideon Benaim is a true expert on all facets of reputation law. Formulates differentiated advice and never fails to stand behind it.
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