Belfast-based Johnsons Solicitors has announced the appointment of David Craig as head of the firm’s media department.

Mr Craig will combine the role with his position as head of the firm’s large loss team.

He brings a wealth of experience to the role, having acted for both plaintiffs and defendants in a number of high-profile defamation and privacy actions in both Irish jurisdictions and Great Britain over 20 years.

Mr Craig will be assisted by Laura Cunningham, who has extensive experience in defamation and privacy litigation and has recently been involved in high-profile cases involving social networking sites.

He will also be assisted by the firm’s media team in Dublin, consisting of partner Carl Rooney, Sarah Watson and Audrey Colleran.

Kenny Chambers, the firm’s managing partner, said: “As the premier claimant defamation practice in Northern Ireland, Johnsons’ media team is ranked Band 1 in Defamation and Reputation Management in Chambers UK Legal Directory and I have no doubt that under David’s leadership, we will see our media department go from strength to strength.”