One fake review can cost you six figures.
- Fake and defamatory reviews removed
- Anonymous reviewers unmasked — landmark Federal Court orders against Google
- Damages recovered from the people responsible
Defamation Lawyers Australia
Defamed Online? Australia's Specialist Defamation Lawyers Fight Back.
Matrix Legal acts in the Federal Court and every Australian Supreme Court. Get a free, confidential case assessment — Mark Stanarevic personally reviews every enquiry and tells you frankly where you stand.
Defamation-only practice — this is all we do
Landmark Federal Court orders against Google
Confidential and protected by legal professional privilege
Free Confidential Case Assessment
Takes 60 seconds. Mark personally reviews every enquiry and responds within one business day.
Thank You — Enquiry Received
Thank you — Mark will personally review your matter and contact you within one business day.
Want a faster assessment? Complete the detailed intake.
500+
Cases Handled
Federal &
Supreme
Supreme
Courts
All States
& Territories
& Territories
Australia-Wide
BBC · NYT
The Age
The Age
Media Features
Simple & Confidential
Three Steps to Fighting Back.
Tell us what happened.
Sixty seconds, using the form above. Confidential and protected by legal professional privilege.
Mark reviews it personally.
A frank view of your prospects, options and likely costs — in plain English. Within one business day.
We act.
A concerns notice, takedown demand, urgent injunction or court proceedings — whatever your matter demands.
What We Fix
Whatever They Published, We Have Seen It Before.
Anonymous accounts aren't anonymous to us.
- Fake profiles identified through preliminary discovery
- Defamatory posts taken down across every platform
- Concerns notices, injunctions and damages claims served
False allegations in the media demand a specialist.
- Corrections, apologies and settlements secured
- Strategic concerns notices before proceedings are issued
- High-profile experience — featured by the BBC, NYT and The Age
Spreading by the hour? We move the same day.
- Urgent injunctions to stop publication before it goes live
- Same-day action for genuine emergencies
- Precise, properly evidenced applications — specialist work
Featured Federal Court Win
Singh v Singh[2025] FCA 1531 — Federal Court of Australia
Mark Stanarevic acted for the successful applicant in this Federal Court ruling on the serious harm threshold under the 2021 reforms.
A second, more credible publication can revive the damage done by an anonymous one — and satisfy serious harm on its own.
Federal Court
Serious Harm
Successful
View All Cases
Principal — Mark Stanarevic
The Lawyer Other Lawyers Call.
When law firms around Australia hit a defamation problem, many of them brief Mark Stanarevic. Matrix Legal does one thing: defamation — in the Federal Court and every Australian Supreme Court, with work featured by the BBC, The New York Times and The Age.
Every enquiry is reviewed by Mark personally. A frank view of your prospects, options and costs — before you spend a dollar.
Reputation takes years to build. It can be damaged in a single post — and defended in a single move.
Questions
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I have a defamation case?
You may have a claim if someone has published false material about you to at least one other person and it has caused, or is likely to cause, serious harm to your reputation. Since the 2021 reforms, the serious harm threshold under s 10A of the Defamation Act 2005 must be satisfied. The fastest way to find out is a free assessment — Mark personally reviews every enquiry and will tell you frankly whether your matter has prospects.
What does a defamation lawyer cost? Are no-win options available?
Costs depend on the complexity of your matter and how early it resolves — many matters settle after a concerns notice at relatively modest cost. Your free assessment includes a frank discussion of likely costs before you commit to anything, and Matrix Legal offers flexible fee arrangements, including fixed fees and staged payments for suitable matters. You will always know the position on costs before any work begins.
How long do I have to sue for defamation?
Generally 12 months from the date of publication — one of the shortest limitation periods in Australian law. Courts can extend the period in limited circumstances, but extensions are never guaranteed. A concerns notice must also be served before proceedings can be commenced, which takes time. If you are anywhere near the 12-month mark, get advice immediately.
Can you get defamatory content removed?
Yes, in many cases. Removal can be achieved through legal demands to the publisher, legal process directed at platforms such as Google and Meta, court injunctions, and orders made in proceedings. Matrix Legal has secured removal of Google reviews, social media posts and website content, and has obtained Federal Court orders against Google to identify anonymous publishers. The right pathway depends on the platform and the publisher.
Do you act Australia-wide?
Yes. Matrix Legal acts for clients in every Australian state and territory, appearing in the Federal Court of Australia and all state and territory Supreme Courts. Defamation law is substantially uniform across Australia, and most matters can be handled entirely by phone, email and video conference wherever you are located.
The Limitation Period Is Only 12 Months
Your reputation is the asset everything else depends on.
Get a free, confidential assessment from Australia's specialist defamation firm — reviewed personally by Mark Stanarevic.
Confidential. No obligation. Legal professional privilege.