Before the headlines, there was Zelda Perkins. Her work on NDA reform began when she decided to break her silence about Harvey Weinstein. At Crafty Fest 2025, Zelda joined us to share her experience of signing a non-disclosure agreement, the damage it caused, and why the legal profession must take responsibility for change.
Why Zelda Perkins broke her NDA
In 2017, Zelda became the first former Weinstein employee to publicly break her NDA. She described the process of negotiating that agreement as “legal waterboarding”, an experience designed to intimidate and exhaust her and her colleague.
They could not keep a copy of the NDA. Lawyers told them they would be liable if anyone they had spoken to made a disclosure. They received instructions not to talk to the police, tax authorities, a doctor or therapist, or even their own families.
At the time, Zelda believed the agreement was the only legal option available. Over time, she came to see how deeply damaging enforced silence can be.
“Having your voice taken away is so catastrophic. It completely changes the course of your life.”
The impact of NDAs and why reform matters
Zelda’s experience showed her the problem was not only about one individual. A system allowed misconduct to be hidden and normalised.
She explained that many lawyers treated the process as a negotiation, rather than recognising the human cost.
“Lawyers often lose sight of the humanity of the experience. They think it’s about the deal, not about people.”
The impact was severe. Zelda left the UK and moved to Guatemala for five years because she felt she could not speak about what had happened. Her colleague, who was also bound by the NDA, later made multiple attempts on her life.
What Zelda Perkins’ NDA reform means for lawyers
Zelda believes NDAs can have a place in some situations, for example to protect trade secrets or when a person requests confidentiality. But she argues they should never be used as a default solution to cover up misconduct.
She encourages lawyers to reflect on their role and ask:
- Are you using NDAs to protect a reputation instead of addressing harm?
- Have you considered the long-term impact on the person being silenced?
- Do you understand your ethical duties and the law as it evolves?
“If you have dealt with misconduct properly, you have nothing to fear from transparency.”
A call to action for the legal community
Through her campaign, Can’t Buy My Silence, Zelda has become a leading advocate for NDA reform. Her work has already contributed to new protections in higher education and other sectors. But there is still much more to do.
Her message is clear. Look beyond process. Question power. Put people first.
Listen to the full conversation
This conversation is essential for every legal professional who wants to understand the human cost of silence, and what needs to change.
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