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Bruce Lehrmann engages defamation lawyer Mark O'Brien after rape trial abandoned

Lawyers for former Liberal Party adviser Bruce Lehrmann are considering taking legal action over allegedly defamatory comments made about his recently terminated rape trial.

Mr Lehrmann was to face a retrial next February over the alleged rape of his then colleague Brittany Higgins at Parliament House in Canberra in 2019.

His first trial, held in October, was aborted after a juror engaged in misconduct.

Last week, ACT prosecutors dropped the case against Mr Lehrmann, saying they were concerned a retrial might threaten the health of Ms Higgins, who was in hospital.

Mr Lehrmann had maintained his innocence and denied having sex with Ms Higgins.

There are no findings against him.

Senior defamation lawyer Mark O'Brien confirmed to the ABC he was representing Mr Lehrmann.

He said he was considering "potential defamation proceedings" over several public statements, broadcasts, articles and social media posts related to the recently discontinued criminal proceedings.

Mr Lehrmann's lawyers have already complained to ACT police about a statement that Ms Higgins made outside the court after the initial trial was abandoned.

Ms Higgins's lawyers said they would not comment on Mr O'Brien's statement.

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