Belfast firm Cleaver Fulton Rankin has launched a new brand protection team to handle defamation, IP and data protections cases, just months after it was first to establish a specialist cyber risk unit.

The new brand protection team will be headed up by experienced defamation lawyer Alan McAlister, who will be supported by fellow directors Fergal Maguire and Michael King.

Explaining the firm’s decision, Mr McAlister said the team has been set up in response to growing client demand for reputation protection, driven largely by the increasing proliferation of online platforms.

He added: “For many years we have provided advice on intellectual property, data protection and defamation, but with increasing levels of online activity it is clear people’s reputations and data are at greater risk than ever.

“Our designated team has in-depth experience of all aspects of personal and corporate brand reputation protection and we believe this a service that is crucial in today’s fast-moving world where reputations can take years to build and can be negatively impacted in a click.”

Mr McAlister continued: “This new initiative is part of our ongoing strategic development as a practice aimed at providing market-leading range of support to our commercial and private client base, especially given the challenges on the horizon as a result of Brexit.”