Turning a Court Win Into a Press Announcement Without Breaching a Suppression Order

07 October 2026·6 min read

Please note: general information, not legal advice — check current official guidance before relying on it.

Quick answer: Before you post anything about a win, run three checks: is there a suppression, non-publication or confidentiality order on the matter (and if so, exactly what does it restrict); has the client given written, specific sign-off to be named and quoted; and does the wording describe the outcome without disclosing details a reasonable person could use to identify a protected party. If you can't tick all three, you can usually still announce the win — you just can't attach the client's name or case specifics to it. 🤍

A good result deserves to be shared — it's proof the work you do actually changes outcomes for real people, and prospective clients want to see that. But the fastest way to turn a genuine win into a genuine problem is publishing before checking what you're actually allowed to say. Here's the pre-publication process I use with law firm clients before anything goes near a "Case Win" post. 💖

What most firms get wrong when announcing a win

Treating "the client said it was fine" as sign-off — a verbal nod in the hallway isn't consent you can point to later if the client (or their ex, or the other side) objects.
Assuming no suppression order means no restrictions — family law, working with children, and some criminal and coronial matters carry automatic statutory restrictions even without a specific court order being made.
Publishing enough detail to identify the other party even while technically not naming the client — a distinctive property address, a specific employer, or a child's school can be enough to identify someone.
Posting the moment judgment is handed down, before the appeal period has even started to run.
Letting the marketing team draft and post without a lawyer on the file reviewing the final wording — the person who ran the matter is the only one who reliably knows every restriction attached to it.

The pre-publication checklist

Work through this before a single word goes live:

1. Ask the solicitor who ran the matter (not the marketing team) whether any suppression, non-publication, confidentiality or statutory reporting restriction applies — get the answer in writing.

2. If a restriction applies, ask exactly what it covers — names, identifying details, the fact a proceeding occurred at all, or only certain evidence.

3. Get written client sign-off that's specific, not general — it should name what will be published, where, and whether identifying detail is included. A general "happy for you to use my case" email isn't sign-off on the actual draft.

4. Check whether the appeal period has lapsed before describing a result as final.

5. Draft generically first, then add identifying detail back only where it's confirmed safe and signed off.

6. Have the solicitor on the file read the final wording before it's scheduled.

7. Keep the sign-off and the restriction check on file — you want a paper trail, not a memory.

How this looks across different practice areas

Family law firm: A firm won a property settlement for a client after a long-running dispute. Because family law proceedings generally carry restrictions on identifying parties and children, the announcement described the outcome in general terms — "secured a property settlement outcome well above the other side's opening offer for a long-term client" — with no names, dates, or details that could identify the family, even though the client was happy to be named.

Commercial litigation firm: A firm won a contract dispute for a mid-size business client with no suppression order in place and a happy client keen to be named. They still delayed the announcement until the appeal period had run, and had the client review and approve the exact wording (including the dollar figure) in writing before posting — because "no suppression order" doesn't mean "no need to ask."

Criminal defence firm: A firm achieved a strong result for a client in a matter that involved a complainant whose identity is automatically protected under statute in many jurisdictions. The announcement focused entirely on the legal issue and process — "successfully argued for charges to be withdrawn on a key evidentiary point" — with zero reference to the client, the complainant, or any fact that could narrow down who either party was.

Why "the client's fine with it" still isn't the end of the analysis

A client can only consent to what's theirs to consent to. They can waive their own privacy, but usually can't waive a court order, a statutory restriction, or another party's right to anonymity — particularly in family matters involving children, or where a third party could be identified by association even when not named. This is the gap firms fall into most: the client is thrilled and says "name me, I don't care" — but the order isn't asking the client's permission.

💡 Heads up: rules on suppression, non-publication and reporting restrictions differ by court, jurisdiction and matter type, and they change. Build "check current restrictions with the solicitor on file" into your process as a permanent step rather than relying on what was true for a similar matter last year.

Mistakes to avoid

Reusing an old win template without checking whether this matter has different restrictions to the last one you posted about.
Posting case numbers or court file references — these can make an otherwise de-identified post traceable back to the parties.
Tagging the client's business or personal social accounts without asking — it can out them to their own network even when your post itself is careful.
Forgetting the other side exists — a post that's respectful of your own client but gloats about or identifies the opposing party can create its own problems.

Frequently asked questions

Can I announce a win if I just don't use the client's name?

Often yes, but only if the remaining details genuinely don't identify anyone. A specific suburb, employer, dollar figure, or timeline can combine to identify a client even with the name removed — especially in a small town or a close-knit industry.

Do I need written sign-off for every single case win post, even small ones?

Yes. A quick, simple approval message is enough — it doesn't need to be a formal document — but it should exist, specifically reference the draft content, and be kept on file.

What if the client wants to be named but I'm worried about the other party?

The client's wishes don't extend to the other party's privacy or any protected person's identity. You can honour the client's wish to be associated with the win while still de-identifying or generalising anything that touches the other side.

Is it ever worth skipping the announcement altogether?

Sometimes, yes — and that's an honest trade-off worth naming. If a matter is sensitive enough that de-identifying it strips out everything that made it compelling, or if there's any doubt about a restriction and the client who runs the file can't get a clear answer quickly, the safer and often better marketing decision is to skip that particular win and look for the next one.

Keep reading 🤍

Written by

Kate, founder of Chronically Online

I help Gold Coast and Brisbane businesses grow with branding, websites and marketing that actually works.

Work with me ✦