Baroness Doreen Lawrence is one of six major names suing the Daily Mail’s publisher over alleged unlawful information-gathering.
Prince Harry, actresses Liz Hurley and Sadie Frost, and Sir Elton John and his husband David Furnish are the others taking action against Associated Newspapers Limited.
A statement released by lawyers acting for the group said they were bringing claims for misuse of private information.
It said the group had been the “victims of abhorrent criminal activity and gross breaches of privacy” by ANL. Papers at the High Court in London showed claims were filed on behalf of Sir Elton and Mr Furnish, Ms Hurley and Baroness Lawrence, whose son Stephen was murdered in a race-hate attack in 1993. They are represented by Hamlins legal firm, while Harry and Ms Frost are represented by Gunnercooke lawyers.
In a statement, Hamlins lawyers claimed Mail titles had hired private investigators to bug cars and homes, and recorded private phone calls.
They also allege payments were made to police “with corrupt links to private investigators”, and medical information was “obtained by deception”.
Associated Newspapers said: “We utterly and unambiguously refute these preposterous smears.” It said there was “no credible evidence”.
