Barrister issues High Court defamation claim against Jolyon Maugham

We can confirm that the barrister Sarah Phillimore has issued in the High Court a claim for defamation against Jolyon Maugham KC.

The claim relates to an article Good Law Project published in August 2025 which identified an online onslaught led by Sarah Phillimore, a barrister and anti-trans activist, which led to an attempt by Kate* to take her own life. The article explained that Good Law Project had made a regulatory complaint to the Bar Standards Board (BSB), Ms Phillimore’s regulator.

In her review into bullying and harassment at the bar, Baroness Harriet Harman said: 

“If a barrister who is bullying or harassing another person online can be identified as a member of the profession… then the conduct ought to engage the remit of the regulator. Where online abuse is aggravated by any form of discrimination, such as misogyny or racism, the threshold for regulatory action should always be triggered on the basis that it is highly likely that such conduct will undermine trust and confidence in the profession.”

Shortly after the article was published, Jolyon shared a message on Bluesky (and a similar message on Twitter) saying:

“A barrister, Sarah Phillimore, led a campaign of harassment of a trans woman so wicked that she sought to take her own life. JK Rowling saw the threat of regulatory sanction for that misconduct and offered to pay her legal costs.

That’s where she now is.”

Before publishing its article, Good Law Project took advice from Leading Counsel on whether an allegation of harassment could properly be made. This is the only complaint it has ever made to the BSB. It has direct documentary evidence that Kate sought professional help for distress immediately after Sarah Phillimore began posting about her and GP notes detailed her attempted suicide several weeks later.

Unsurprisingly, Jolyon Maugham will vigorously defend Ms Phillimore’s claim. No further comment will be made at this time.

Ms Phillimore is represented by Elliot Hammer of Branch Austin McCormick (who is also acting for Sophie Corcoran in her action against 10,000 Interns). Mr Maugham will be represented by Good Law Project and Jonathan Price KC.

*We have changed Kate’s name in our publications as we continue to have concerns about her safety. We will be making no further comment.