David Engel Email & Phone Number

David has specialised in reputation and privacy law for 30 years, and has led AG's Reputation & Information Protection team since 2008. His practice has for many years been recognised as a market leader in the field. He is personally ranked for reputation and privacy law in the 2025 editions of the two principal legal directories: Legal 500 ranks him in its 'Hall of Fame' and Chambers in its Band 1. The Spear's 500 directory ranks him as a 'Top Flight' reputation lawyer, which is their category for the top 10 such lawyers across the UK. David has acted for claimants in landmark cases such as the UK's first internet libel case (Western Provident Association v Norwich Union) and the UK's biggest ever defamation claim for US $850 million (Dar Al Arkan & Anor v Al Refai & Ors). He acted for the claimants in one of the first ever privacy and data protection claims (Douglas & Zeta-Jones v Hello!), successfully defended one of the earliest data protection damages claims in the High Court (Hughes v. British Airways), and successfully represented almost 100 victims of phone hacking in privacy claims against News International and Mirror Group.He advises listed and privately held companies, owner managers, family offices, and other businesses and individuals facing threats to their reputation, whether from mainstream or social media, disaffected employees, unhappy customers, competitors, activists, regulatory or police investigations, operational issues or sensitive litigation. He also advises on contentious privacy and data protection issues, including data breaches, civil claims and litigation risk under GDPR, defending ICO investigations, 'right to be forgotten' claims against online platforms, representing public authorities or private sector third parties facing FOIA requests, and defending contentious data subject access requests.His work includes crisis management, advisory, internal investigations and litigation. His legal specialisms focus on defamation, confidentiality, privacy, harassment and data protection. He also advises on general commercial disputes, particularly in the media and tech sectors.

Listed skills include Intellectual Property, Dispute Resolution, Commercial Litigation, Legal Advice, and 6 others.