Kingsley Napley and Brabners have picked up roles to advise on a defamation battle between celebrity duo Coleen Rooney and Rebekah Vardy.

Rebekah Vardy, the wife of Leicester City and England striker Jamie Vardy, has launched a defamation claim against Coleen Rooney, the wife of Derby County player Wayne Rooney, according to court documents filed on June 12. The lawsuit against Rooney is for alleged libel and slander.

The move follows an argument between the two women that erupted on social media in October 2019, when Rooney alleged that Vardy's Instagram account was responsible for leaking inaccurate stories about her to the press after Rooney posted false stories on her Instagram account.

Rooney wrote on Twitter that for the previous five months she had been posting a series of false stories to see if they appeared in The Sun newspaper.

"It's been tough keeping it to myself and not making any comment at all, especially when the stories have been leaked, however I had to. Now I know for certain which account/individual it's come from," she wrote.

"I have saved and screenshotted all the original stories which clearly show just one person has viewed them. It's……….Rebekah Vardy's account."

Vardy later denied the accusations on Twitter, saying that she "never speak[s] to anyone about [Rooney]" and adding that multiple people have access to her account.

Kingsley Napley is advising Vardy in the legal wrangle, according to the online documents, while Rooney is being represented by Brabners.

Brabners head of litigation for the Liverpool and Preston offices, Paul Lunt, said in a statement: It is disappointing that Mrs Vardy has chosen to issue court proceedings. Coleen feels that the time and money involved could be put to better use; her offer to meet face to face still stands. Mrs Vardy's decision to issue court proceedings does at least mean that Coleen's evidence can be made public when the time is right."

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