Dominic Crossley is Head of the firm’s Dispute Resolution Department. He handles a wide range of sensitive and significant disputes on behalf of private individuals and commercial organisations. A leading practitioner in the law of privacy/breach of confidence, defamation and harassment, his work also encompasses numerous other specialist areas of the law and practice applicable to protecting the interest and rights of clients in times of crisis.
Dominic is particularly well-known for representing high profile individuals who are the subject of reputational attack or intrusions into privacy. He has acted for well-known actors, leading business people, prominent politicians, musicians and sports people.
Clients seek Dominic’s advice in varied circumstances, including:
- Unwanted national and international media intrusion,
- High profile and contentious family or business disputes,
- Protecting against and investigating malicious reputational attack, including dealing with social media misuse,
- Suspected unlawful breach of privacy and loss of confidential information, including by way of phone hacking or cyber-crime, and
- Stalking, harassment or being threatened.
In addition to his top-flight reputation in media litigation, Dominic has extensive experience in commercial/civil litigation. He has handled high value disputes on behalf of large household-name corporations, educational and sporting institutions, public sector bodies and entrepreneurs with cases including breach of contract, judicial review, breach of trust, professional negligence, breach of warranty and intellectual property disputes. He has also acted in regulatory disputes, both in sport and other sectors. In addition to his legal advice, his clients benefit from his experience in managing press and all forms of media (including TV and online) interest, on a pre-publication basis.
By its nature, much of Dominic’s work is confidential. However, instructions that are in the public domain include the Leveson Inquiry, in which Dominic acted for all of the 53 “Core Participant Victims”. Dominic has acted in ground-breaking privacy claims in all appellate courts including the European Court of Human Rights.
Dominic is the author of numerous articles written for the legal press and contributes to media reports on cases and developments in the law of privacy and defamation.
He qualified in 2000 and joined Payne Hicks Beach in 2014.
The Legal 500 UK 2025 ranks Dominic Crossley as a ‘Leading Partner’ for the ‘Reputation Management’ category.
Dominic is recommended in the legal directories and has featured as one of the Lawyer Magazine’s “Hot 100 Lawyers”. He is listed as one of the “Top Flight” (Top 10) “Reputation Lawyers” in the Spear’s 500 2024 and Spear’s Reputation Lawyers Index 2023. Both Chambers High Net Worth 2023 and Chambers UK 2024 rank him a Leading Individual in Band 1 and The Legal 500 UK 2024 lists him as a Leading Individual for Reputation Management. Citywealth Leaders List 2022 listed Dominic as a Leading Reputation Management Lawyer.
Dominic is described in Chambers HNW 2023 as: “first class in every respect” and “an excellent solicitor in all respects, showing great attention to detail at all times.” He is commended for being “first rate for dealing with high profile and sensitive matters.”
Chambers UK 2024 ranks Dominic as a Leading Individual and highlights that he is “widely respected for his significant experience acting for high-profile and leading clients on a broad range of critical defamation and privacy matters.” Commentators say, that “Dominic is great, he is very seasoned and knows the field well,” is “charming, knowledgeable and extraordinarily hard-working,” and “goes above and beyond for his clients.”
Dominic is ranked in The Legal 500 UK 2024 as a Leading Lawyer for Reputation Management where he is described as “a brilliant team leader, who is always a calm and reassuring presence, even at difficult moments” and “a heavyweight, great with clients, knows the industry inside-out.”
Chambers and Partners comments have included: “Really clever, forensic and nice.” “Crossley’s main strength is an ability to see the difficulties and traps and advise caution where necessary, combining this with a willingness to act aggressively and fast when his clients require it.” He is noted for his “sound judgement”, ability to “make clients feel they are in safe hands” and “great legal work and great client handling.” “Dominic Crossley has a very relaxed but reassuring way with clients; he is very confident and professional” and in relation to defamation and privacy he is “one of the leading figures in this area.” He is praised by his peers as “excellent” and “a model of courtesy.” Sources say “he is respected and has been doing this for a long time” and “he knows the law inside out and is very good tactically at getting the best for his client.”
The Legal 500 UK comments have included: Dominic Crossley is a “class act” and “media heavyweight” who “fields a strong, professional and committed team.” His “expert advice enables clients to navigate the stormy waters of reputation management,” and he is “very well acquainted with the latest issues.” He is consistently praised for “outstanding levels of client care” and regarded as “one of the best in the business.”