Wragge & Co's new team ensures there is nowhere to hide in cyberspace

Picture this. Defamatory and damaging comments are posted on a website blog anonymously. The impact is immediate. Share prices are affected. Gossip among staff is rife. Market confidence drops. But how can you bring someone to justice if they are just a user name on the screen?

Wragge & Co LLP's new Cyber Tracing team has the answer. This four-lawyer team brings together the combined expertise and experience of IT litigation and employment law specialists. They help clients discover the identity of individuals hiding behind the anonymity of electronic communication.

IT litigation director Patrick Arben said: "People sell counterfeit products, fraudulently send money to incorrect accounts, leak confidential information or publish defamatory statements on the internet anonymously. Many think they will never be caught. Often businesses think the same, unaware they can actually do something."

In fact, various options are available to help identify the culprit. Courts can compel Internet Service Providers or telephone service providers to make information available regarding registered names, email addresses and other key account holder information.

One growth area is identifying individuals involved in leaking confidential information, such as client or financial details, to competitor companies. With the help of employment law specialists, the team can assist both in finding the source of such leaks and advising on any subsequent employment aspects.

In addition to cyber tracing, Wragge & Co's seven-partner national information technology practice advises IT suppliers and users on contentious and non-contentious matters. Strong sector focus and understanding enables it to act quickly, providing commercial solutions in often complex situations. Earlier this year, Mark Henley, an expert in the use of free and open source software, joined the firm as a director.