Building Capacity to Defend Against Strategic Litigation Against Public Participation

This capacity building session brought together leading legal experts from the UK and South Africa to strengthen strategies for defending against Strategic Litigation Against Public Participation (SLAPP), an increasingly common intimidation tactic that deploys burdensome lawsuits in an attempt to silence journalists and activists.The session was designed as a Litigation Surgery where volunteer instructors and participants dissect relevant cases from international tribunals and work with their peers to understand the defenses raised in such cases and how relevant bodies of international law may be used to defend against SLAPP suits. The session was hosted by International Senior Lawyers Project and Akin in collaboration with an international team of legal experts including Max DuPlessis of Doughty Street Chambers, Samuel Rowe of 5RB Chambers, Dario Milo of Webber Wentzel, Toni Palmer of Ubunye Chambers, and Catherine Kruyer of Thulamela Chambers. The session was in conjunction with ISLP’s publication Guidance on Strategic Lawsuits Against Public Participation (SLAPP) Defence in Southern Africa.