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Right to Be Forgotten Expert Assessment – Free, Confidential, Solicitor-Led
If you are looking for a right to be forgotten solicitor or a specialist in content removal from Google, you are in the right place. We are Cohen Davis Solicitors – the UK’s longest-serving dedicated internet law firm – and for over 25 years we have helped individuals and businesses remove personal information from the internet. Unlike companies that remove personal information from the internet using template requests, we are qualified solicitors who can advise, negotiate, escalate and litigate.
Our real expertise is in the tough, stubborn cases – the ones other firms have turned away, the ones the removal companies have failed on, the ones where the publisher has already said no.
Where others have already given up, we’ve just got started.
You will be able to speak freely and openly about your situation, and we will immediately understand it. Regardless of how personal, serious or embarrassing it may feel for you, we will never judge you.
Ready to find out if your content can be removed?
Request your free assessmentOr call free: 0800 612 7211
What we’ve achieved for clients like you
Hard numbers, not marketing claims:
- 1,017 pages removed in a single case (client: Chris)
- 579 pages removed for a California-based client (client: HZ)
- ICO cases won against Google – including cases where the ICO accepted “most if not all of the very cogent arguments”
- Cases handled from the UK, the United States, Canada, Australia and across the EU
- Law Society Excellence Awards – 2016 Winner, 2019 Shortlisted
The UK’s first dedicated internet law firm
We are Cohen Davis Solicitors, trading through the Internet Law Centre – the first dedicated internet law firm in the UK and a recognised right to be forgotten expert. Our team is led by Yair Cohen, an internet law specialist with over 25 years’ experience in online reputation, content removal from Google, defamation, and data protection law.
Because we have been doing this work for so long, we know many of the people on the other side of these matters – in-house counsel at the platforms, newspaper editors and their legal teams, the solicitors who act for Google and the major publishers. Those relationships are built on mutual respect, and they matter. A well-pitched letter from a firm the other side knows and trusts is often the difference between a two-week removal and a two-year fight.
We are solicitor-led and regulated by the Solicitors Regulation Authority. That means legal professional privilege, a formal duty of care, and the ability to escalate – to the ICO, to Google, and into court – when that is the right thing for the client.
★★★★★
“I am absolutely delighted about the outcome of my right to be forgotten application. This exercise requires considerable expertise and I am totally pleased with the outcome.”
Right to be forgotten client
★★★★★
“The result has been fantastic and the best I could have hoped for. I was very distressed by the situation I found myself in and Cohen Davis were brilliant.”
Dr B.Y – Bradford
The kinds of cases we handle
We have removed thousands of pages over the years. Whatever your situation is, the likelihood is that we have already dealt with one very similar to it.
News articles and press coverage
We have secured removals or de-indexing involving effectively every major UK national and regional title, including The Sun, The Daily Mail, The Mirror, The Times, The Telegraph, The Guardian, The Express, The Independent, the Evening Standard, Metro, the BBC, ITV, Sky News, local Reach and Newsquest titles, trade press and professional journals.
Other content types
- Criminal convictions – spent, unspent, not guilty verdicts, discontinued proceedings, foreign convictions
- Professional discipline matters – doctors, solicitors, accountants, teachers, financial services professionals, regulated tradespeople
- Social media content – Facebook, X, Instagram, TikTok, LinkedIn, Reddit, forums
- YouTube videos, Google autocomplete and “People also ask” suggestions
- Images and photographs, including intimate images and deepfakes
- Doxxing and exposure of private information
- Civil proceedings, court reporting, divorce and family matters
- ICO complaints, appeals and strategic escalation
Content outside the UK
We act for clients internationally. We have handled cases against content and publishers based in the United States, Canada, Australia, across the EU, and in other jurisdictions. Cross-border matters – different legal tests, different platforms, different escalation routes – are part of our day-to-day work.
If your situation isn’t on this list, it doesn’t mean we can’t help. Tell us about it in the assessment form below.
Can the right to be forgotten help you?
Every case is different. Here are some of the situations where we have successfully used the right to be forgotten and content removal strategies to help our clients.
Criminal convictions
You were convicted years ago. You have served your sentence, rehabilitated, and moved on – but a Google search of your name still shows the newspaper report. We have removed hundreds of conviction-related pages, including spent convictions, not guilty verdicts, discontinued cases, and foreign convictions that should not appear in UK search results.
Professional discipline
A disciplinary finding from years ago still dominates your Google results. Whether you are a doctor, solicitor, accountant, teacher or financial services professional, we have acted for regulated professionals across every major sector to remove or delist outdated disciplinary records.
News articles and press coverage
An old article about a legal dispute, business failure, or personal matter follows you everywhere. We have secured removals and delistings from every major UK newspaper and broadcaster. The passage of time, rehabilitation, and the right legal argument can make the difference.
Images and videos
Photographs or videos of you appear in Google search results – perhaps mugshots, intimate images, or footage you never consented to. We handle image delisting, direct publisher takedowns, and where necessary, legal action to enforce removal.
Autocomplete and “People also ask”
Google autocomplete links your name to something negative – a criminal allegation, a scandal, a complaint. We have successfully removed autocomplete suggestions and “People also ask” results that were defamatory, outdated, or irrelevant.
International and cross-border
You are based outside the UK, or the content is hosted abroad. We act for clients in the United States, Canada, Australia and across the EU. Cross-border removal requires understanding different legal frameworks, and we have the international contacts to make it work.
Celebrities and public figures
Being well known does not mean you have no right to privacy. We act for entrepreneurs, Sunday Times Rich List individuals, public figures, and celebrities. The public interest test is higher, but it is not insurmountable – particularly where the content is outdated, irrelevant, or causing disproportionate harm.
Sex offence delisting
Allegations or convictions of a sexual nature carry particular stigma in search results. Whether the conviction is spent, charges were dropped, or you were acquitted, we have experience securing delistings in these highly sensitive cases with full confidentiality throughout.
Divorce, family and court proceedings
Court reports about divorce, financial remedy proceedings, or family disputes can appear in Google results and cause lasting personal harm. We have acted to remove or delist reports about family proceedings that have no ongoing public interest.
Doctors, solicitors and tribunal decisions
MPTS decisions, SDT rulings, and other professional tribunal outcomes can dominate your Google results for years. We have a strong track record of removing or delisting links to tribunal decisions where the sanction has been served and the professional has returned to good standing.
Convictions not yet spent
Many people assume that only spent convictions can be addressed. That is not always the case. Depending on the nature of the offence, the extent of rehabilitation, and the way the content is presented, there may be routes to delisting even before a conviction becomes spent under the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act.
Religious belief and personal identity
Content that discloses your religious beliefs, sexual orientation, political views, or other aspects of personal identity without your consent may be eligible for removal. These are treated as special category data under UK GDPR and carry additional protections.
Why we succeed where others have given up
Many of our clients come to us after other firms or content removal companies have already tried and failed. That is not a coincidence. The cases that reach us tend to be the ones that could not be solved by a standard take-down request or a template letter. They require something more.
We have legal leverage
As qualified solicitors, we can do things a removal company simply cannot. We can send letters that carry genuine legal consequences. We can issue court proceedings. We can make formal ICO complaints that are taken seriously because they come from a regulated law firm with a track record. That leverage changes the dynamic of every conversation.
We understand how search engines think
After 25 years, we know that Google and other search engines often just need you to come at the problem differently. A request that was refused on one set of arguments can succeed on another. A different legal basis, a new precedent, a shift in how the case is framed – these are the things that turn a “no” into a removal.
We do not stop at the first refusal
Most firms treat a rejection as the end. We treat it as information. We revisit the case, look for new angles, consider whether the law has shifted, whether a different regulator or route would be more effective. Some of our best results came on the third or fourth attempt – with a deeper understanding of why the earlier attempts had not worked.
Our experience opens doors
We know the in-house counsel at the major platforms. We know the editors at the national newspapers. We know which ICO case officers are most receptive to which arguments. These relationships, built over decades, mean our letters are read, our calls are returned, and our arguments are taken seriously from the start.
The cases we are proudest of are the ones that looked impossible on paper and were solved by an unexpected route.
Your situation may be more straightforward than you think
Request your free assessmentWhy a solicitor, not a content removal company
| Internet law solicitor | Content removal company | |
|---|---|---|
| SRA regulated | Yes | No |
| Legal professional privilege | Yes | No |
| Strategic advice on the right route for your specific case | Yes | No |
| Legal leverage – ability to credibly threaten and pursue proceedings | Yes | No |
| Expert ICO strategy – knows when and how to use it (and when not to) | Yes | No |
| Able to issue legal proceedings | Yes | No |
| Professional contacts with major attorneys and in-house counsel in the US and Canada | Yes | No |
| Experience with complex, multi-jurisdictional cases | Yes | Limited |
| Fixed fees quoted in writing before work starts | Yes | Varies |
A removal company can send take-down requests. A solicitor can do that, and escalate when the first attempt fails – which, in the cases that actually matter, it usually does.
Strategic thinking is the difference
Most Right to be Forgotten cases are not won by legal templates. They are won by strategic thinking – reading the specific facts, the publisher, the jurisdiction, the regulatory climate, the commercial pressures on the other side – and then thinking outside the box to find the angle others missed.
That is what 25 years of doing this work gives you. It is not just knowing the law. It is knowing which argument to put, to which person, at which moment, in which order. It is knowing when a polite letter works and when it won’t – and what to do next when it doesn’t. It is knowing when the ICO is the right route and when it will actively hurt your case. It is knowing which journalist or editor to approach directly, and which to go around.
The cases we are proudest of are the ones that looked impossible on paper and were solved by an unexpected route.
★★★★★
“Cohen Davis were exceptionally professional and swift with my case. It was reassuring that they have the experience and knowledge to help me, especially when I live in New York.”
Ms J.J – New York, United States
★★★★★
“My future happiness depended on the work of this company and they more than delivered. I quite simply cannot recommend enough.”
Mr B.G – Nottingham
Frequently asked questions about the right to be forgotten
How do I know if my case is eligible?
That is exactly what the free Expert Assessment is for. A solicitor reviews the URLs and facts, applies the legal tests under UK GDPR and case law, and tells you honestly whether you have a case.
How quickly can content be removed?
It varies enormously. At one end, we have had content taken down within 24 hours where the right argument lands with the right person. At the other end, the most stubborn cases – old press articles, hostile publishers, foreign content – can take a couple of years of sustained work. We will give you a realistic expected timeline with the written quote.
What if Google or the publisher refuses?
A refusal is the start of the real legal work, not the end of it. We escalate – but not necessarily to the ICO. Whether to go to the ICO, issue proceedings in court, pursue the publisher directly, or approach a platform’s in-house legal team is a strategic decision we make together with you.
Why not just submit the RTBF form myself?
You can, and many people do. If the request is simple, it may succeed. If it doesn’t, the refusal itself can make later legal action harder, because Google’s response becomes part of the record. The Expert Assessment tells you, for free, whether the DIY route is likely to work in your specific case.
Will my details be kept confidential?
Yes. Your enquiry is covered by legal professional privilege from the first call.
What is the difference between delisting and deletion?
Delisting means Google removes the link from its search results, but the original page stays on the publisher’s website. Deletion means the content is removed from the source entirely. We assess which approach is right for your case – and in many situations, we pursue both.
Should I submit a right to be forgotten request to Google myself, or use a solicitor?
For simple cases, doing it yourself may work. But if the content involves a publisher who is likely to resist, a complex legal argument, or multiple pages, a solicitor’s involvement significantly improves your chances – and avoids the risk of a refusal on record that makes escalation harder.
What happens if the ICO rejects my complaint?
An ICO rejection is not the end. There are routes of appeal and alternative strategies – including going to court directly. In fact, in some cases we deliberately avoid the ICO because a court route gives a stronger result. We advise you on the right path before you commit.
Can I take Google to court?
Yes. It has been done, and we have the experience to advise when litigation is the right route. Court proceedings are a serious step and are not right for every case, but when they are, they carry real weight.
How does UK GDPR apply differently from EU GDPR for right to be forgotten?
Since Brexit, the UK operates under UK GDPR, which is largely identical to EU GDPR in substance but is enforced by the ICO rather than EU data protection authorities. For cross-border cases, this distinction matters – we advise on which jurisdiction gives you the best outcome.
Can I use the right to be forgotten to remove a spent conviction from Google?
Yes, in many cases. Once a conviction is spent under the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act, the argument for removal is significantly stronger. The passage of time, the nature of the offence, and your rehabilitation all factor into the assessment Google and the ICO make.
Can I remove news articles about a criminal case where I was found not guilty?
This is one of the strongest categories for removal. Articles reporting on charges where you were acquitted, or where the case was discontinued, can often be delisted on the basis that they are inaccurate or no longer relevant.
Can Google remove court records and tribunal service listings?
Google can delist links to court records and tribunal decisions from its search results. Whether they will depends on the nature of the case, how old it is, and the public interest arguments. We regularly handle these applications.
What about foreign convictions – can they be removed from UK Google results?
Yes. Foreign convictions often have a stronger case for removal from UK search results, particularly where the legal framework in the originating country differs significantly from UK law, or where the conviction would not have resulted in a criminal record in the UK.
Can I remove news reports about charges that were dropped?
Dropped charges are a strong basis for removal. The content is no longer accurate in that the proceedings did not result in a conviction, and the continued presence of the article causes ongoing harm.
Is there a right to be forgotten after a prison sentence?
Yes. Serving a sentence and being released is part of the rehabilitation process. Once a conviction is spent, the right to be forgotten arguments become significantly stronger. Even before a conviction is spent, there may be routes available depending on the circumstances.
Can I remove disciplinary proceedings from Google?
In many cases, yes. The key factors are the nature and age of the disciplinary finding, whether conditions have been met or sanctions served, and the balance between public interest and your right to move on professionally.
Can a doctor, solicitor, or accountant remove professional discipline results from Google?
We have acted for regulated professionals in all of these fields. Each regulator has different publication policies, and the approach to removal varies accordingly. In many cases, we have secured removals where the disciplinary matter is historic and the professional has been fully rehabilitated.
Can I remove a director disqualification record from Google search?
Director disqualifications are published by Companies House and appear in Google search results. Once the disqualification period has expired, there are arguments for delisting, particularly where the continued visibility is disproportionate to the original offence.
Can a celebrity or public figure use the right to be forgotten?
Yes, but the public interest threshold is higher. Google gives greater weight to the public’s right to information about public figures. However, this does not mean removal is impossible – particularly where the content is outdated, irrelevant to the person’s current role, or causes disproportionate harm to their private life.
Does being in the public eye mean I have no right to privacy on Google?
No. Public figures retain privacy rights, even if they are more limited. The test is proportionality – does the public’s interest in the information outweigh the harm it causes? In many cases, particularly with older or personal content, the balance tips in the individual’s favour.
Can someone on the Sunday Times Rich List get content removed from Google?
We have acted for individuals on the Rich List and similar high-profile individuals. Wealth and public profile do not remove your privacy rights. Each case is assessed on its facts, and we have secured results for high-profile clients where the content was outdated or disproportionately harmful.
What is the difference between a content removal company and a right to be forgotten solicitor?
A content removal company can submit take-down requests and RTBF forms. A solicitor can do all of that, plus provide legal advice, invoke legal professional privilege, send letters with genuine legal weight, escalate to the ICO, and issue court proceedings. For straightforward cases, a removal company may suffice. For anything complex, contested, or involving a resistant publisher, you need a solicitor.
Are companies that remove personal information from the internet effective?
Some are, for simple cases. But they hit a ceiling quickly. When a publisher refuses, a removal company has no legal tools to escalate. A solicitor does. If you have already tried a removal company and it has not worked, that does not mean the case is hopeless – it often means the case needs a legal approach.
What can a solicitor do that a content removal company cannot?
Issue legal proceedings, provide advice protected by legal professional privilege, send letters that carry genuine legal consequences, negotiate directly with publishers’ legal teams, make strategic ICO complaints, and appear in court. These are all tools that are available only to qualified lawyers.
Can I remove autocomplete suggestions that link my name to negative content?
Yes. Google autocomplete suggestions that are defamatory, misleading, or connect your name to irrelevant negative content can be challenged. We have successfully removed autocomplete suggestions for a range of clients.
Can I remove images or videos of me from Google search results?
Yes. Google has specific processes for image delisting, and there are additional legal routes for intimate images, deepfakes, and photographs published without consent. We handle both the Google delisting and, where necessary, direct action against the publisher.
Can I remove social media posts about me from Google?
Social media content – posts on Facebook, X, Instagram, Reddit, and forums – can be addressed through a combination of platform reporting, RTBF requests to Google, and where necessary, legal action against the poster or the platform.
Can I remove content from Google if it was published outside the UK?
Yes. We regularly handle cross-border cases. Content published in the US, Europe, Australia, or elsewhere can be delisted from Google’s UK search results under UK GDPR. We also pursue direct removal with international publishers where that is the more effective route.
Can doxxing content be removed under the right to be forgotten?
Yes. Doxxing – the publication of private personal information such as home addresses, phone numbers, or family details – is a clear basis for removal. We act quickly in these cases given the personal safety implications.
What our clients say
Verified client reviews from Cohen Davis Solicitors
★★★★★
“Your assistance and guidance is far beyond the value of any fees paid.”
Chris – 1,017 pages removed
★★★★★
“Giving my family, in particular my sons, a more stress free normal life… you have given us our lives back.”
Eric – 3 pages removed
★★★★★
The ICO accepted “most if not all of the very cogent arguments” we put forward.
Diego – 28 pages removed, ICO case won
★★★★★
“Excellent solicitors, very professional and delivered wonderful results.”
Martin – 13 pages removed
★★★★★
“Excellent, professional service delivered within a tight timeline. Have used twice and will use again.”
Thomas – 4 pages, repeat client
★★★★★
“I hope never to need their services again but I would recommend them without hesitation.”
Edwin – New York, 2 pages
★★★★★
“I have found your fantastic team of internet lawyers incredibly helpful, robust and hugely knowledgeable. You are certainly a safe pair of hands to be in during difficult times.”
David Baum
★★★★★
“Refreshingly – for a lawyer – Yair Cohen advised me not to hire him in this instance as it would not be a good investment of time and money.”
Honest advice – we tell you if we cannot help
★★★★★
“Your team and professional services are excellent and I actually really enjoyed my conversation with the solicitor.”
Mrs S.L
★★★★★
“I am absolutely delighted about the outcome of my right to be forgotten application. This exercise requires considerable expertise and I am totally pleased with the outcome.”
Right to be forgotten client
★★★★★
“The result has been fantastic and the best I could have hoped for. I was very distressed by the situation I found myself in and Cohen Davis were brilliant.”
Dr B.Y – Bradford
★★★★★
“I have been very pleased with the services provided by Cohen Davis. Their team have acted very professionally and the outcome has been very satisfactory.”
Mr E.P – Jersey, Channel Islands
★★★★★
“From start to finish very refreshing. Friendly, efficient, professional and very informative.”
Verified client
★★★★★
“Sara, Richard, Paul and Eva were a fantastic team. Knowledgeable, responsive and extremely helpful throughout.”
International client – New York
★★★★★
“Thank you Yair for an excellent service. Your attention to detail and approachable staff are an asset to the firm.”
Elliot Crego
How it works – three steps
Free 15-minute Expert Assessment
A qualified and highly experienced solicitor reviews your situation and classifies the case – straightforward, complex, or ineligible. No sales pitch.
Written Case Review and Fixed-Fee Quote
Within 48 hours, you receive a written review and a fixed-fee quote. Quote valid for 14 days. You decide.
We act – and we win
If you instruct us, we begin work immediately. You have a named solicitor, clear communication, and a legal team behind every step.
We are results focused. We do not give up. If the first route fails, we find the next one.
What it costs
- Standard cases – from £1,000 + VAT, fixed fee quoted in writing
- Complex cases – from £5,000 + VAT, scoped and quoted before any work starts
- The Expert Assessment itself is free. No obligation, no pressure.
You will never be charged for anything you haven’t agreed to in writing.
Request your free Expert Assessment
Tell us about your situation. A solicitor will call you back within one working day. The call is free, confidential, and carries no obligation.