Solicitor settles phone hacking libel claim
The claim was brought over a statement by the Metropolitan Police Service to the Press Complaints Commission that Mr Lewis wrongly quoted what had been said to him by Detective Inspector Mark Maberly when giving… Read More »
5RB practice management changes
5RB has undergone significant practice management changes in Spring 2012. After twenty-three years John Sizer left the 5RB practice management team on 30 April 2012. All members of 5RB and its clerking team would like… Read More »
Disclosure order against internet trolling
A woman from Brighton has secured a disclosure order against Facebook in relation to a persistent internet “troll” campaign against her. Nicola Brookes became inexplicably subjected to wide-ranging internet harassment after she wrote a message… Read More »
Solicitor wins poster libel case
A UK solicitor has won his libel claim against a former client with the payment of £50,000 in damages, an apology, an undertaking not to repeat and indemnity costs. Stewart Wiseman, a solicitor at Lorrells LLP… Read More »
Leveson Inquiry
In response to a number of requests about availability of counsel involved in the Leveson Inquiry, we can confirm that whilst David Sherborne remains as counsel for the Core Participant Victims, and Christina Michalos as… Read More »
Defamation Bill published
A Defamation Bill containing a comprehensive range of provisions to reform defamation law in England and Wales is published today. Following a commitment made in the Government’s Coallition Agreement in 2010, and public consultation and… Read More »
OFCOM recommends press self-regulation
OFCOM has submitted its recommendations on the future of press regulation to The Leveson Inquiry. At the end of evidence given by the Chairman and CEO of Ofcom to the Leveson Enquiry on 1 February… Read More »
Times withdraws Flood appeal
The Times has withdrawn its appeal to the Supreme Court in regard to what has become known as the second limb of its appeal in Flood v Times Newspapers Limited. The second limb concerned Tugendhat J.’s… Read More »
Guardian overturns disclosure ruling
The Guardian today won its long running claim to obtain access to US Government documents referred to in an English extradition claim. In a judgment which has potentially wide reaching implications, the Court of Appeal… Read More »
Tulisa obtains injunction
Tulisa Contostavlos, formerly of N-Dbuz, has been granted an injunction until trial to restrain the publication of video footage on the internet showing her engaged in a sexal act with a former boyfriend. The footage… Read More »
Report recommends current approach to privacy law
The Joint Committee on Privacy and Injunctions chaired by John Whittingdale has recommended that Parliament do not enact a statutory privacy law but the media improve self-regulation. In a report published today, the Joint Committee… Read More »
5RB silks judge Oxford media moot
Three QCs from 5RB are among the judges at Oxford University’s Price International Media Law Moot Court 2012. Joint Heads of Chambers Desmond Browne QC and Mark Warby QC are joined by former joint head… Read More »
Flood: Supreme Court overturns Court of Appeal
The Supreme Court has overturned part of the decision of the Court of Appeal which found that a report published by The Times about an investigation into a Detective Sergeant Flood was not protected by Reynolds privilege. The original… Read More »
Mail on Sunday apologises to MP
The Mail on Sunday has accepted that an allegation that the Conservative MP Dominic Raab behaved as a sexist bully is unfounded. The article complained of was published on 30 January 2011 as Payout for… Read More »
Press Complaints Commission to go
The Press Complaints Commission is to close after 21 years and certain of its functions transfer to a new media watchdog or regulator before the Leveson Inquiry has reported. At a meeting of the PCC… Read More »
Government Response on the Draft Defamation Bill
On 29 February the Government published its Response to the Report of the Joint Committee on the Draft Defamation Bill. The Government accepts the substance of the majority of the Joint Committee’s recommendations in whole or… Read More »
Nanny and cleaner book on Jaqueline Gold restrained
Jacqueline Gold, Chief Executive of Ann Summers Ltd, succeeded in obtaining a final injunction against two former employees on 22 February to prevent them publishing a book which threatened to disclose personal and sensitive information… Read More »
Great Ticket Scandal injunction fails
Channel Four and independent production company, Hardcash Productions, won a last-minute legal battle in the High Court and the Court of Appeal yesterday brought by online ticketing giant Viagogo. Viagogo sought an interim injunction on… Read More »
5RB FRU and Bar Pro Bono Quiz 2012
5RB hosted its annual charity pub quiz last night, to raise funds for the Bar Pro Bono Unit and the Free Representation Unit (FRU). Teams from many leading media organisations and solicitors firms entered to win the first prize… Read More »
Telegraph refused permission to appeal in Thornton case
The Court of Appeal have refused permission to appeal to The Daily Telegraph against the decision of Mr Justice Tugendhat in the case of Thornton v Telegraph Media Group Ltd. In a judgment handed down… Read More »