Jude Law is putting the smack down on the paparazzi by literally smacking them around.

Jude was leaving the Automat nightclub early this morning, when he hit a female photographer on the head and slapped her in the face as she attempted to snap his picture. Jude's lawyer has released a statement saying it was an accident and Jude was blinded by the camera flashes.

A statement from his lawyer, Graham Shear, reads, "This is all nonsense. Last night's incident was an accident. Jude was blinded by the camera flashes when he left the restaurant, raised his hand to shield himself and inadvertently struck somebody standing very close. He apologised and left. Pictures of this sort can often be misleading."

This isn't the first time Jude has had a physical problem with the paps. He was accused in '07 of causing bodily harm when he tried to grab a paparazzi camera outside of his home. He got off that time, but this picture speaks a thousand words and I see 'b*tch slap' and 'backhand' written all over it!