Attorney Devindra Kissoon sues KN for over $600 million in defamation claim

Jul 08, 2026 News

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(Kaieteur News) – Prominent attorney Devindra Kissoon has filed a lawsuit against Kaieteur News seeking in excess of $600 million in damages over news content published in the newspaper’s April 2026 editions.

In a Statement of Claim filed on 30^th June, 2026, Kissoon alleges that an article titled “Conflict of interest erupts in Gas-to-Energy debacle: Govt and contractor sharing same lawyer,” published on 20^th April, 2026, contained false and defamatory statements about him.

He further claims that a column authored by GHK Lall, titled “A special kind of lawyering, and at its best,” published on 21^st April, 2026, and an editorial titled “Silence and scandal,” published on 27^th April, 2026, also contained false and defamatory content. Kissoon’s claim states that all three pieces were published on the newspaper’s website, on Facebook, and in print, reaching thousands of readers across the various platforms.

Damages sought

According to the lawsuit, Kissoon is seeking damages jointly and severally against the newspaper, its publisher Glenn Lall, and its Editor-in-Chief Nigel Williams, including:

In excess of $100 million in general damages for the “particularised libellous statements” concerning him; In excess of $100 million in general damages in respect of each of the article and the column, and a further sum in excess of $100 million for the editorial; Special damages of G$73,300,000, alternatively to be assessed, for losses he says flowed directly and foreseeably from the publications; $100 million each in aggravated damages in respect of the article, column and editorial and exemplary damages against the newspaper.

Kissoon is also asking the court to order the newspaper to publish an apology and retraction with prominence, font size and placement comparable to or greater than the original publications; to remove the allegedly harmful articles, screenshots, hyperlinks, images and related content from its website and social media platforms; and to grant a permanent injunction restraining the newspaper, its publisher and staff from publishing, republishing, or causing to be published the article, column, editorial, or any further false allegations against him.

In support of his case, Kissoon states that his personal and professional reputation is closely tied to his standing as an Attorney-at-Law and to his firm, London House Chambers, and that this reputation has been built over many years of ethical conduct and diligent legal practice.

“It is a reputation which he is entitled to enjoy without unlawful attack, damage, or defamation,” the claim states, noting that under the rules governing Guyana’s legal profession, attorneys and law firms are prohibited from advertising or soliciting business, and therefore depend almost entirely on their reputation, standing, competence and integrity to attract and retain clients.

The lawsuit further asserts that Kissoon has, at all material times, conducted his practice in conformity with the Legal Practitioners Act, Cap. 4:01 of the Laws of Guyana, as well as with the codes of professional conduct governing his practice in England and Wales and in the State of New York, including the Bar of England and Wales’ Code of Conduct and the New York Rules of Professional Conduct, by virtue of his admission and practicing status in each jurisdiction.

Kissoon claims he has never been the subject of any adverse finding, disciplinary proceeding, suspension, censure, or sanction by the Guyana Bar Association, its Disciplinary Committee, the Legal Practitioners Committee established under the Legal Practitioners Act, the Court of Appeal, or any other competent authority, and that no such complaint or proceeding has ever been commenced against him. The claim adds that he is consistently ranked among Guyana’s leading lawyers by various international publications and is believed to have been recommended for appointment as Senior Counsel by the Judiciary.

Beyond the lawsuit, Kissoon has, through his attorneys at Fraser and Housty, issued a cease-and-desist letter demanding that Kaieteur News not publish or republish content relating to an article headlined “Devindra Kissoon threatens arrest and imprisonment of competitors in explosive business,” published on 28^th June, 2026.

Kissoon has taken issue with the phrases “threatens arrest and imprisonment of competitors in explosive business” and “he made aggressive use of the local courts to threaten competitors.” According to his letter, he believes these words could be understood to mean that he misused legal correspondence and court processes — by presenting the lawful consequences of disobeying a court order as a personal threat to have competitors arrested and imprisoned — which he says amounts to an allegation of professional misconduct, dishonesty and abuse of process.

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• Attorney, defamation, Devindra Kissoon, Kaieteur News, sues

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