The number of High Court defamation claims has risen to the highest level since the Woolf reforms, figures have shown.

Defamation claims in the High Court rose to 298 last year, up 15% from 259 in 2008, according to an analysis of judicial statistics carried out by City firm Reynolds Porter Chamberlain (RPC). A small number of further claims will also have been issued in regional district registries.

RPC said this was the highest number of defamation claims to have been issued since 1998, when Lord Woolf’s reforms of civil justice were implemented. The reforms were intended to reduce the number of disputes reaching the courts.

RPC media partner Jaron Lewis said: ‘This is the third year in a row where the number of claims has increased, firmly putting to bed the notion that libel law is not a serious challenge for the media. There are now nearly 50% more libel claims each year than there were three years ago.’

Lewis added: ‘Despite efforts to reduce the likelihood of expensive defamation litigation, the number of claims has been creeping up consistently, as claimants continue to rely on favourable laws to bring expensive and often unnecessary litigation through the courts.’

RPC found that a number of new law firms had undertaken defamation work for claimants in 2009, particularly firms based outside London. It said its research pointed to a rise in the number of claims brought relating to allegations of involvement with extremist groups and terrorism.

The firm noted that the rapidly growing volume of material being published on a daily basis on the internet had clearly contributed to the rise in claims.

Lewis added: ‘The number of cases reaching trial has remained constant, suggesting that more claims are now being settled or withdrawn before trial.’