Allan Dunlavy is a leading authority on Reputation Management, Privacy, Crisis Management and Digital Reputation Strategy and serves as a Partner at Schillings.
A highly experienced English attorney based in New York, Allan has a wealth of experience managing and responding to a wide range of high-profile and complex crisis situations, including privacy threats, cyber-attacks, hostile campaigns, extortion, data breaches and digital reputation threats. His background as a commercial, media, privacy and Intellectual Property litigator enables him to counsel clients on international reputation and privacy matters from a unique perspective.
Allan’s privacy law expertise means that he is heavily involved in the big tech sector, particularly in regards to the ongoing developments around its proposed regulation, the debate in relation to its role as publisher, and what the greater implications will be for traditional and social media companies worldwide. He provides counsel to international businesses, senior leaders, high profile and high net worth individuals on how to address these...Allan Dunlavy is a leading authority on Reputation Management, Privacy, Crisis Management and Digital Reputation Strategy and serves as a Partner at Schillings.
A highly experienced English attorney based in New York, Allan has a wealth of experience managing and responding to a wide range of high-profile and complex crisis situations, including privacy threats, cyber-attacks, hostile campaigns, extortion, data breaches and digital reputation threats. His background as a commercial, media, privacy and Intellectual Property litigator enables him to counsel clients on international reputation and privacy matters from a unique perspective.
Allan’s privacy law expertise means that he is heavily involved in the big tech sector, particularly in regards to the ongoing developments around its proposed regulation, the debate in relation to its role as publisher, and what the greater implications will be for traditional and social media companies worldwide. He provides counsel to international businesses, senior leaders, high profile and high net worth individuals on how to address these issues and changes they should anticipate in the future in this sphere.
As an acknowledged thought leader on matters of privacy, digital reputation and big tech regulation, Allan contributes commentary to many prominent publications and has featured in Newsweek, The BBC, Tech.co and CityAM on challenging issues related to media, defamation, privacy and regulation. He also speaks as an expert advisor to the industry on the international professional speaking circuit.
Allan serves as a Board Member of tech start-up, Legendary, the National Executive Service Corps and Stetson University's Disruptive Leadership Certificate Program.
In 2022, Allan ranked as 'Recommended' in ‘The best reputation and privacy lawyers for high-net-worth individuals' in Spear's Magazine annual Reputation Managers Index, and in 2010, he was named as The Times' Lawyer of the Week.READ MOREVIEW LESS
Schillings is a leading reputation and privacy consultancy that is committed to helping individuals and organizations fight against violations of privacy, attacks on reputation, and threats to security. With the firm’s 37 years of experience fighting falsehoods and protecting privacy, Allan and Schillings have a heritage of fighting misinformation and helping clients tackle big tech issues.
Allan started his career at Schillings as an Associate before promotions to Senior Associate and Consultant and then Partner. He has acted for a wide array of high profile and high net worth personalities. He was an adviser for footballer Cristiano Ronaldo, who accepted substantial libel damages from a UK newspaper.
Madison Cooper Consulting LLC
President
Oct 2013
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Feb 2017
Atlanta, GA, USA
Madison Cooper Consulting works alongside law firms and their clients and provides them with high quality reputation management services, to protect both their brand and privacy.
Teacher Stern LLP was established in 1967 and is a full-service, client-focused, commercial law firm based in London. The firm focuses on offering solutions that are both clear and pragmatic.
Legendary is a tech start-up that was established in 2019. They specialise in finding the source of damaging online information, including that in the ‘deep web’.
National Executive Services Corps (NESC) is dedicated to improving the management of non-profit organizations. NESC makes consulting, executive search and financial outsourcing more accessible so that non-profits can successfully reach their goals.
The Disruptive Leadership Certificate Program at Stetson University guides professionals on how to become pioneers through disruption. The course helps executives to recognise emerging technologies, business models, and resources within their company that can contribute to an innovative future.
Lexology is source of information relating to international legal updates, analysis, and insights.
New York City Scaleup
Contributor
New York, NY, USA
New York City Scaleup is made up of numerous organizations, committed to helping businesses reach success, by sharing advice and building solid relationships.
Accept All: Unacceptable? sets out to answer the question: “Why should we care about online privacy?”. The documentary uses personal stories to explore how big technology companies have breached consumer rights to privacy and have been exploiting something that we should all be able to control – our personal information.
Renowned for its precedent setting work in the area of privacy, Schillings has launched a documentary about Big Technology, online privacy, and its impact on society. The 40-minute documentary, titled Accept All: Unacceptable.
Allan is in favour of major social media companies taking responsibility for users on their platforms and says “A requirement that social media companies obtain and hold real proof of identification for their users would allow the police to hold people responsible for criminal acts online.”
Allan talks about Section 230 and says “Website owners can decide who they allow to post content and have editorial control over all of the content on their website. Given this, website owners should be held responsible to use this editorial control to ensure that the content on their site isn't illegal or otherwise harmful.”
Allan talks about how a Biden presidency might affect the digital landscape if Section 230 is revoked. He says “At the moment there’s no financial incentive to take any action on these issues… they want everyone in there, so they can collect all their data and flog it. What society and government needs to do is change the financial calculation.”
In this piece published by Portland Communications, Allan weighs in on 'how to regulate the internet' suggesting that websites, search engines and website hosts should be accountable for the content published on their pages.
In an interview with The In-House Lawyer, Allan Dunlavy, Partner at Schillings, discusses the online opportunities and emerging threats of businesses and C-suits in terms of digital reputation management.
In conversation with The In-House Lawyer, Allan Dunlavy discusses several topics including reputation management, the biggest cases over the last year and dealing with negative press.
The Law Society is the independent professional body for solicitors, acting as the voice of solicitors, whilst driving excellence in the profession and safeguarding the rule of law.
Partner Allan Dunlavy delves into the drama behind Twitter’s blue tick system under Elon Musk, and explores the consequences for users’ reputation, privacy and security
Allan Dunlavy explores whether it is possible that an ID requirement on social media would deter users from posting fake news and hate speech. He also discusses the implications of such a change and how it would operate in practice.
Allan shares his thoughts on the tussle between our rights to privacy and big tech companies. He argues that it is time to confront these companies that have violated our privacy rights and taken away something we should have control over, our personal information.
Allan explains the Online Safety Bill and explores the recent testimony given by Frances Haugen, the Facebook whistleblower, and its potential impact on social media companies.
In this article for The University of Oxford’s Social Evaluations Research Priorities, Allan explores the impact data privacy will have on the era of 'Surveillance Advertising'.
Allan encourages families to take control of their digital assets and outlines five steps on how to better manage this portfolio. Allan highlights that it is less of a branding exercise and more about ensuring that your “digital portfolio is an asset and not a liability.”
Allan explores tech regulation and suggests that there should be a "single, consistent and transparent approach" to the framework for rules and regulations, how they are enforced, and how decisions can be appealed.
Allan shares his thoughts about the paparazzi and tabloid media. He suggests that we unlearn the outdated notion that famous people, actively involved with the media and photographers, are not entitled to lead private lives.
In this digital age every individual and business has a portfolio of digital assets and in this article, Allan outlines why it makes good business sense to invest in these.
Allan writes about the need to regulate social media in the Premier League, he argues that "The social media platforms these companies run have become too integral to society to continue to be unregulated – and the widespread abuse and societal ills that flourish there can no longer be ignored."
Allan and Rachel Atkins, weigh in on the fine line of content regulation. They argue that social media platforms should be more regulated if they are acting like publishers, by moderating the content on their platforms.
Allan explores Cancel Culture, in his view a phenomenon that aims to permanently 'cancel' the opposing view. This does not create an environment for constructive discussions which is why he appeals to rather debate than hate.
Allan uncovers 'The real value of Online Reputation Management' and argues that it is less about polishing your Google page one search results and more about being aware of your data sets and digital assets, especially in the case of inaccuracies or misinformation.
Allan shares his opinion on reputation management in the polarising information age. He claims "your reputation is what people think about you and your privacy is what people know about you."
In this publication, Allan discusses the Flood v Times Newspaper case. He explores several topics including the facts of the case, the first instance and court of appeal, the supreme court, the two meanings, public interest, public interest in naming DS Flood, and the verification of sources.
Allan and Matthew Himsworth write a legal brief on social media reputation and take a view on the threats the platforms pose while they explore possible solutions.
The Private Client Global Elite Directory was created with the awareness that referrals and recommendations are absolutely key to the private client sector. Rather than a listing of private client advisors as chosen by a third party, these are the top selected individuals as chosen by their own peers within the private wealth industry.
In Spear's Magazine's annual Reputation Managers Index in 2021, Allan was named one of the 'Top Recommended' advisors, and in 2022, he was named a 'Recommended' specialist in 'The best reputation and privacy lawyers for high-net-worth individuals'.
Defamation / Reputation Management: High Net Worth
2021
Schillings is recognized as "the go-to when your reputation is in the media's hands." Notable Practitioner Allan Dunlavy is described as "extremely personable, client-centric, he really knows what he is doing and is very easy to deal with.” Another commentator noted he is "easy to work with and terrifically responsive," and "is extremely knowledgeable and always a pleasure to work with."
Allan was named as The Times' Lawyer of the Week after acting on behalf of footballer, Cristiano Ronaldo. His client accepted substantial libel damages from The Daily Telegraph in an out-of-court settlement. He was an Associate Solicitor at Schillings at the time.
Allan addresses the issue of protecting one's client's reputation across borders in this Step Caribbean Conference session entitled 'Offense vs Defence'.
The 2023 STEP Cayman Conference will explore a range of topical issues pertinent to the trust industry with a special focus on wealth structuring. Allan Dunlavy and other industry experts will take part in a panel titled 'Fraud and reputation management'.
The STEP Bermuda International Conference explored the opportunities for private client practitioners and international financial centers amidst geopolitical and economic uncertainty. Allan Dunlavy gave a talk titled 'Tomorrow’s Horizon – Harnessing your digital presence'.
Allan Dunlavy took part in a panel titled 'It’s Not Going to Stop – Planning for the Next Cyber Security Breach, from Cyber Security to Legal Remedies to Stakeholder and Media Management'.
Allan shares his insights together with Robert Ackerman, Founder of Allegis Capital, as they present two topics at the Family Office Association event in Palm Beach: 'Dynamics, Threats and Opportunities in the Cyber Security Market' & 'Global Security Leader Discusses Managing Cyber Threats Specifically for Family Offices'.
As a speaker at Legal Week's Private Client Forum Americas, Allan talks about the need for individuals and businesses to be aware of their data to avoid inaccuracies, misinformation and reputational threats.
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Bar Admissions
New York State Bar Association
Foreign Legal Consultant
New York, NY, USA
The New York State Bar Association is a voluntary bar association for the state of New York. Allan is a licensed Foreign Legal Consultant under the New York Bar.
The Carthusian Society is an alumni body for Charterhouse that encourages Old Carthusians to network, connect professionally and engage socially through sporting clubs and societies.
