Peter Lees

Director

About Peter

Peter Lees is a director in the Litigation team in Manchester, and heads the firm’s reputation management team. Peter also has considerable experience of advising on professional negligence claims.

Reputation management – Peter has considerable experience of advising clients on reputation management matters, including libel claims, investigations and combatting online abuse. Peter’s commercial and strategic approach is informed by his background; prior to joining the firm, Peter worked in advertising and media for companies including the Telegraph Group, Viacom and Carat.

Professional negligence – Peter advises numerous financial services and commercial clients on negligence claims against professionals, including accountants, solicitors, surveyors and patent lawyers.

Experience

Reputation Management

  • Advising a high street retailer in respect of a potential libel claim against a broadcaster.
  • Advising a leading sports club on the reputation management risks of publishing a high-profile internal investigation.
  • Advising a Premier League footballer on the reputation management risks of publication of an article in an academic journal.
  • Advising a client on numerous defamatory statements by national and local media and local politicians.
  • Advising a leading media personality on tackling online abuse.
  • Advising an insurance company on the reputation management issues arising from national press coverage of its former board member.

Professional Negligence

  • Advised Manchester Building Society in its successful Supreme Court appeal against Grant Thornton (Manchester Building Society v. Grant Thornton UK LLP [2021] UKSC 20).
  • Advising numerous banks and building societies on claims against negligent accountants, solicitors and surveyors.

Credentials

Education
  • University of Birmingham, B.A., Honors, 1996
  • Manchester Metropolitan University, Graduate Diploma, Law, 2005
  • Manchester Metropolitan University, L.P.C., 2006
Admissions
  • England and Wales, 2008

Recognitions

Legal 500 UK testimonials include:

  • Recognised as a key lawyer for reputation management, “instrumental in building up the firm’s cross-office offering” in this area.
  • “The team has a number of highly effective lawyers, who combine to deliver good results for their clients. They were legally sure-footed and had excellent industry knowledge in that sphere.”
  • “We know if we call for advice it will be straightforward and if we have risks they will let us know, and help to put in place a strategy to minimise said risks and the business reputation. They are easy to approach and we know we will get good advice and we have a team that is allocated to support on our cases as needed.”
  • “I think at the top they are very strong on legal analysis, giving a ‘barrister-like’ analysis.”
  • “Peter Lees is a highly efficient practitioner.”
  • “Peter Lees is friendly, approachable and sensible in the advice he provides.”
  • “Peter Lees is hard-working and capable.”
  • “Peter Lees – pragmatic, trusted his advice, sensible.”
  • A “very able director”.
  • “Key name to note in this excellent team of hugely committed lawyers.”

Expertise

Services
Litigation Financial Services

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