About
Alex is a Partner and he heads up our Media Law team.
Alex is a leading media and reputation solicitor who advises individuals, public figures, businesses and organisations. He is highly regarded for his considerable expertise in defamation, misuse of private information, breach of confidence and harassment. Alex has an outstanding client base and he has developed an excellent referral network. He has also built a thriving civil litigation practice.
Alex acts for many prominent figures across the sports, entertainment and political sectors and he has extensive experience dealing with national newspapers, broadcasters, online publishers and social media platforms. He is regularly instructed on sensitive and urgent matters where allegations, private information or confidential material has been published or disseminated.
Alex has extensive experience of both preventing publication and pursuing claims after publication. He has successfully obtained apologies, substantial damages payments, undertakings and injunctions for clients in complex and highly sensitive matters. His experience includes acting for the successful claimant in Cairns v Modi, the UK’s first Twitter libel (“Twibel”) trial, as well as bringing numerous successful claims against national newspapers.
Alex is frequently recommended by other solicitors and professional advisers, and he is also experienced in working alongside PR and communications advisers where legal strategy forms part of a wider reputation management response. He is also regularly referred complex or sensitive media and reputation matters by other lawyers who are seeking specialist expertise in defamation or privacy disputes.
Alex has been recommended by Chambers and Partners and the Legal 500 for many years as a leading practitioner in defamation and reputation management.
Experience and Areas of Expertise
- Pre-publication advice
Alex regularly advises clients where a newspaper, broadcaster or publisher is considering publishing allegations or private information about them. He provides strategic advice at an early stage, including assessing the legal and reputational risks of the publication, engaging with publishers and advising on the appropriate response. Where necessary, he has experience taking urgent legal action to prevent publication. - Defamation
Alex has extensive experience of complex libel disputes involving national newspapers, broadcasters, online publishers and social media. He has successfully pursued claims resulting in apologies, substantial damages awards, non-repeat undertakings and payment of legal costs. - Privacy and the misuse of private information
Alex advises individuals whose private or confidential information is at risk of being disclosed or has already been published. He has obtained urgent injunctions in sensitive privacy matters, including cases where applications have needed to be brought on an anonymized basis. - Political and electoral law
Alex also works with Gerald and the wider team advising the Labour Party on all aspects of media and electoral law, including election petitions and the regulation of candidates under the Representation of the People Act 1983. - Urgent applications
Alex has experience obtaining urgent court orders in privacy and harassment matters where clients require immediate protection from intrusive, threatening or harmful conduct.
Appointments & Memberships
Alex is one of the founding Council members of the Press Justice Project (PJP), which provides access to justice and ongoing support to those affected by press abuse, by addressing unwarranted media intrusion and challenging false statements that cause reputational harm. Alex works very closely with his colleagues at the PJP and he regularly provides specialist legal advice to victims of press abuse.
Alex is also a member of the Legal Panel of Law for Change, which supports people and communities with limited access to justice and provides them with specialist input from a panel of strategic legal advisors who are widely recognised as the leaders in their field.
Client/Cases of Interest
- Christopher Jefferies and News Group Newspapers Limited Statement in Open Court
Watch the ITV interview with Alex here - Anna Melton v Associated Newspapers Limited – an apology was published to our client in the Daily Mail following the publication of a serious libel about her. In addition, our client received substantial damages, non-repeat undertakings and her legal costs.
Client Reviews
“From the moment you took on my case, Alex, I felt an immediate sense of relief. Because of the incredible dedication shown by you, Dhillon, and Lucy, I truly believed we would achieve a positive outcome. My wife and I are deeply grateful for everything you have done.“
Media Law client, 2026
“Alex is a delight to work with: intelligent, thorough, a true master of his craft.”
Chambers and Partners, 2026
“Alex Cochrane is an excellent solicitor and a pleasure to work with.“
Legal 500, 2026
“Praised by clients as ‘intelligent and thorough’, Cochrane brings deep expertise in libel and privacy claims against national newspapers.“
Legal 500, 2026
“Alex Cochrane is excellent. He is great with clients and adopts a strategic approach.”
Legal 500, 2026
“Alex is a fantastic lawyer with empathy and complete understanding.”
Chambers and Partners 2025
“He is a first-rate solicitor and a pleasure to work with. I have had no hesitation at all in recommending him to others”.
Chambers and Partners 2025
“An excellent lawyer who really looks after his clients and whose advice is spot on.”
Chambers and Partners 2024
“Alex Cochrane is considered by interviewees to be a “technically excellent lawyer” who “knows his law and is extremely good with clients”. He advises clients on all aspects of reputation management, including defamation, privacy and harassment claims.”
Chambers and Partners
“Alex Cochrane gains clients’ trust through a mixture of an authoritative yet friendly personality, coupled with outstanding legal expertise.”
Legal 500
“A huge thank you to Alex Cochrane, Saoirse Bracken and all the Media Law team at Edwards Duthie Shamash. Having to defend my personal and professional reputation in a legal setting had the potential to be a soul crushing experience. However, Alex and Saoirse guided me through my libel proceedings with a calm professionalism that gave me reassurance and confidence. I put my trust in the team and they came up trumps with a fantastic result. Thank you so much for your help and support!”
Dr Heather Wood, Clinical Psychologist
“Many thanks to Alex Cochrane and Saoirse Bracken for all their hard work and professionalism in handling my libel case. From beginning to end I received excellent advice on the relevant matters, with clear guidance on the next steps available to me. I am very glad to have achieved a positive outcome, which is very much thanks to Alex, Saoirse and the Media Law team at Edwards Duthie Shamash.“
Dr Aidan Kelly, Clinical Psychologist
“Alex Cochrane and all the team at EDS were a pleasure to work with in resolving a long-running claim against a major media organisation with huge resources. Alex was always easy to reach, and responsive, keeping me up-to-date and informed at every stage. I would have no hesitation in recommending Alex and his colleagues for their expertise and negotiating skills.“
Paul Farrelly – Former Labour Party MP for Newcastle-under-Lyme
“It was a real pleasure working with Alex Cochrane and the team at Edwards Duthie Shamash Solicitors – on something that had no right to be pleasurable. I was listened to well and supportively, particularly when we were discussing the most emotional aspects of my case. I am hugely grateful to Alex and the team and would highly recommend them.”
Kathy Sykes OBE – Physicist, science educator and television broadcaster
“Alex Cochrane is a man of the utmost integrity and a first-rate solicitor. I will be forever grateful for all of his hard work, compassion and kindness. He and the EDS team have made a difficult process so much easier. I have had complete trust and faith in Alex since day one and I cannot thank him enough.”
Justin Lee Collins, Comedian and Television Presenter
“I would like to thank Alex Cochrane, who dealt with this sensitive matter with the utmost compassion and grace, making me feel prioritised and valued. Though my faith in humanity has been challenged many times, it is, surprisingly, easily restored by simple acts of honesty and integrity, like those of Alex who was, always, kinder than necessary.”
Anouska de Georgiou, Model and Actor
“I’m incredibly grateful to Alex Cochrane for achieving a successful outcome to my claim. Alex was great to work with: thorough and concise, and always easy to reach via email and phone. From the very first conversation I felt I was in very capable hands working with Alex. His warmth and compassion readily shines through. I can’t recommend him enough!”
John O’Sullivan, former aide to the Royal Household
“Having worked with solicitors before, where the press are concerned, the utter relief when I had my initial meeting with Alex Cochrane was fantastic. He knows his job, knows how to conduct himself with somebody who has had a horrific time and knows how to win!”
Natalie Cecil, Private Individual