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Adam Wolanski
Profile
Adam is a leading junior specialising in defamation and all other areas of media law. He also advises and acts in commercial disputes.
In recent years he has been involved in a number of important contempt and reporting restrictions matters. He also gives pre publication advice to a wide variety of book and newspaper publishers.
His practice also encompasses general commercial litigation, including breach of confidence and intellectual property.
Cases in 2009 included:
- Acting for Times Newspapers in a libel action brought by Roman Abramovich.
- Representing Mirror Group Newspapers in an on-going libel action brought by the footballer Craig Bellamy.
- Obtaining injunctions on behalf of a musician, a doctor and a businessman preventing publication of sensitive information about their private lives.
- Acting for Al Jazeera Satellite Television in a libel action brought by Mohammed Dahlan, a prominent Palestinian politician.
- Acting as Amicus Curiae in a significant case concerning the new rules for media attendance in family courts.
- Acting for a foreign businessman who wished to prevent details of his divorce case being publicised.
- Acting for the News of the World in a libel claim brought by Barry George
- Making representations on behalf of various media groups in relation to reporting restrictions in numerous cases including R v Connelly (the Baby P case) Baby RB (High Court dispute between parents on whether life support should be removed from their seriously ill child), R v Vanessa George (nursery worker convicted of sexually abusing children at her nursery), R v Warboys (taxi driver convicted of sexually assaulting several passengers).
Career
Called
1995 Called to the Bar
Education
University of Cambridge (Robinson College) MA (Hons) History
Polytechnic of Central London, CPE examination (with merit); Awarded CPE Scholarship by Lincoln's Inn.
Inns of Court School of Law (Bar Vocational Course)
Areas of work
- Defamation
- Privacy and Confidence
- Intellectual Property
- Reporting the Courts
- Pre-publication Advice
- Contempt
- General Common Law
- Malicious Falsehood
Verbatim
"Making a very big name for himself at the very highest level, Adam Wolanski’s position at the top of his field is solidified by his “excellent pleadings, unflappable coolness under fire, finely wrought judgement and sheer niceness” - Chambers and Partners Bar Awards 'Junior of the Year' nomination 2008.
Testimonials
Recommended as a 'leading junior' in the Legal 500 and Chambers and Partners directories. “Has a very good sense of the commercial media objective," as well as "an ability to get his head around complex issues very quickly." He has particular expertise in contempt and reporting restrictions issues, and regularly advises on pre-publication matters” – Chambers and Partners 2009 edition . “He clearly knows his stuff and has a nice courtroom style”, and "competitors find him to be pragmatic, user-friendly and aggressive when need be" (Chambers 2007 edition) The 2006 edition of Chambers reported receiving “excellent feedback” about his “legal and practical insight”, and said that “opponents feel he possesses energy and enthusiasm and isn’t one to mince his words”. Also described in Chambers and Partners as being "approachable" (2002 edition) having a "wonderful courtroom manner" (2003 edition) as offering "lucid advice on the law" (2004 edition).
Languages
French (reasonable)
Publications
(26 Jan 2006)
Cases
Defamation
Peacock v MGN Ltd
[2009] EWHC 769 (QB) 08/04/2009
W v JH & A County Council Limited
[2008] EWHC 399 (QB); [2009] EMLR 11 05/03/2008
Ivereigh v Associated Newspapers Ltd
[2008] EWHC 339 (QB) 12/02/2008
Malik v Newspost Ltd & Ors
[2007] EWHC 3063 (QB) 19/12/2007
Merelie v Newcastle Primary Health Care Trust & Others (No.3)
[2006] EWHC 1433 (Admin) 20/06/2006
Turcu v News Group Newspapers Ltd (No.2)
[2005] EWHC 799 (QB) 04/05/2005
Turcu v News Group Newspapers Ltd
21 March 2005 21/03/2005
Merelie v Newcastle Primary Health Care Trust & Others
[2004] EWHC 2554 (QB); The Times, 1 December 2004 11/11/2004
Sarayiah v Suren & Others
[2004] EWHC 1981 (QB) 10/09/2004
Campbell v News Group Newspapers Ltd (No.2)
[2002] EWCA Civ 1143; [2002] EMLR 43 31/07/2002
Safeway v Tate
[2000] EWCA Civ 335; [2001] QB 1120; [2001] 2 WLR 1377 18/12/2000
Privacy and Confidence
Doncaster Metropolitan Borough Council v BBC
[2010] EWHC 53 (QB) 22/01/2010
Re Stedman & Patten (& Others)
[2009] EWHC 935 (Fam) 18/05/2009
Ivereigh v Associated Newspapers Ltd
[2008] EWHC 339 (QB) 12/02/2008
T (by her litigation friend the Official Solicitor) v BBC
[2007] EWHC 1683 (QB) 11/07/2007
Norfolk County Council v Webster & Others
[2006] EWHC 2733 (Fam); [2007] EMLR 199; (2007) HRLR 3 02/11/2006
Hughes v Carratu International plc
[2006] EWHC 1791 (QB) 19/07/2006
Clayton v Clayton
[2006] EWCA Civ 878; [2006] Fam 83; [2006] 3 WLR 599; [2007] 1 All ER 1197; [2007] EMLR 65; (2007) 1 FLR 11; (2006) HRLR 34; (2007) UKHRR 264; The Times, 4 July 2006; The Independent, 29 June 2006 27/06/2006
BBC v Rochdale Metropolitan Borough Council, X and Y
[2005] EWHC 2862 (Fam); [2006] EMLR 117 08/12/2005
A (A Local Authority) v PD & Another
[2005] EWHC 1832 (Fam); [2005] EMLR 840 10/08/2005
Venables & Thompson v News Group Newspapers Ltd
[2001] EWHC 32 (QB); [2001] Fam 430; [2001] 2 WLR 1038; [2001] 1 All ER 908; [2001] EMLR 255; [2001] 1 FLR 791 08/01/2001
Data Protection
W v JH & A County Council Limited
[2008] EWHC 399 (QB); [2009] EMLR 11 05/03/2008
Hughes v Carratu International plc
[2006] EWHC 1791 (QB) 19/07/2006
Reporting the Courts
Re Child X (Residence and Contact - Rights of media attendance - FPR Rule 10.28(4))
[2009] EWHC 1728 (Fam) 14/07/2009
Re Stedman & Patten (& Others)
[2009] EWHC 935 (Fam) 18/05/2009
Medway Council v G and Others
[2008] EWHC 1691 (Fam) 18/07/2008
Ivereigh v Associated Newspapers Ltd
[2008] EWHC 339 (QB) 12/02/2008
Norfolk County Council v Webster & Others
[2006] EWHC 2733 (Fam); [2007] EMLR 199; (2007) HRLR 3 02/11/2006
Clayton v Clayton
[2006] EWCA Civ 878; [2006] Fam 83; [2006] 3 WLR 599; [2007] 1 All ER 1197; [2007] EMLR 65; (2007) 1 FLR 11; (2006) HRLR 34; (2007) UKHRR 264; The Times, 4 July 2006; The Independent, 29 June 2006 27/06/2006
Birmingham City Council v H
[2005] EWHC 2885 (Fam) 13/12/2005
BBC v Rochdale Metropolitan Borough Council, X and Y
[2005] EWHC 2862 (Fam); [2006] EMLR 117 08/12/2005
A (A Local Authority) v PD & Another
[2005] EWHC 1832 (Fam); [2005] EMLR 840 10/08/2005
Cox v Jones
[2004] EWHC 1006 (Ch) 06/05/2004
Re B (A Child) (Disclosure)
[2004] EWHC 411 (Fam); [2004] 2 FLR 142; [2004] Lloyds Rep Med 303 05/03/2004
Venables & Thompson v News Group Newspapers Ltd
[2001] EWHC 32 (QB); [2001] Fam 430; [2001] 2 WLR 1038; [2001] 1 All ER 908; [2001] EMLR 255; [2001] 1 FLR 791 08/01/2001
Contempt
Clayton v Clayton
[2006] EWCA Civ 878; [2006] Fam 83; [2006] 3 WLR 599; [2007] 1 All ER 1197; [2007] EMLR 65; (2007) 1 FLR 11; (2006) HRLR 34; (2007) UKHRR 264; The Times, 4 July 2006; The Independent, 29 June 2006 27/06/2006
Re B (A Child) (Disclosure)
[2004] EWHC 411 (Fam); [2004] 2 FLR 142; [2004] Lloyds Rep Med 303 05/03/2004
General Common Law
Merelie v Newcastle Primary Health Care Trust & Others (No.3)
[2006] EWHC 1433 (Admin) 20/06/2006
Merelie v Newcastle Primary Health Care Trust & Others
[2004] EWHC 2554 (QB); The Times, 1 December 2004 11/11/2004
Harassment
Merelie v Newcastle Primary Health Care Trust & Others (No.3)
[2006] EWHC 1433 (Admin) 20/06/2006
Merelie v Newcastle Primary Health Care Trust & Others
[2004] EWHC 2554 (QB); The Times, 1 December 2004 11/11/2004
Human Rights
Re Stedman & Patten (& Others)
[2009] EWHC 935 (Fam) 18/05/2009
Medway Council v G and Others
[2008] EWHC 1691 (Fam) 18/07/2008
Ivereigh v Associated Newspapers Ltd
[2008] EWHC 339 (QB) 12/02/2008
T (by her litigation friend the Official Solicitor) v BBC
[2007] EWHC 1683 (QB) 11/07/2007
Norfolk County Council v Webster & Others
[2006] EWHC 2733 (Fam); [2007] EMLR 199; (2007) HRLR 3 02/11/2006
Clayton v Clayton
[2006] EWCA Civ 878; [2006] Fam 83; [2006] 3 WLR 599; [2007] 1 All ER 1197; [2007] EMLR 65; (2007) 1 FLR 11; (2006) HRLR 34; (2007) UKHRR 264; The Times, 4 July 2006; The Independent, 29 June 2006 27/06/2006
BBC v Rochdale Metropolitan Borough Council, X and Y
[2005] EWHC 2862 (Fam); [2006] EMLR 117 08/12/2005
Re B (A Child) (Disclosure)
[2004] EWHC 411 (Fam); [2004] 2 FLR 142; [2004] Lloyds Rep Med 303 05/03/2004
Venables & Thompson v News Group Newspapers Ltd
[2001] EWHC 32 (QB); [2001] Fam 430; [2001] 2 WLR 1038; [2001] 1 All ER 908; [2001] EMLR 255; [2001] 1 FLR 791 08/01/2001
Injunctive Relief
Doncaster Metropolitan Borough Council v BBC
[2010] EWHC 53 (QB) 22/01/2010
Re Stedman & Patten (& Others)
[2009] EWHC 935 (Fam) 18/05/2009
Medway Council v G and Others
[2008] EWHC 1691 (Fam) 18/07/2008
T (by her litigation friend the Official Solicitor) v BBC
[2007] EWHC 1683 (QB) 11/07/2007
Clayton v Clayton
[2006] EWCA Civ 878; [2006] Fam 83; [2006] 3 WLR 599; [2007] 1 All ER 1197; [2007] EMLR 65; (2007) 1 FLR 11; (2006) HRLR 34; (2007) UKHRR 264; The Times, 4 July 2006; The Independent, 29 June 2006 27/06/2006
BBC v Rochdale Metropolitan Borough Council, X and Y
[2005] EWHC 2862 (Fam); [2006] EMLR 117 08/12/2005
Venables & Thompson v News Group Newspapers Ltd
[2001] EWHC 32 (QB); [2001] Fam 430; [2001] 2 WLR 1038; [2001] 1 All ER 908; [2001] EMLR 255; [2001] 1 FLR 791 08/01/2001
Media Law
Doncaster Metropolitan Borough Council v BBC
[2010] EWHC 53 (QB) 22/01/2010
Re Child X (Residence and Contact - Rights of media attendance - FPR Rule 10.28(4))
[2009] EWHC 1728 (Fam) 14/07/2009
Re Stedman & Patten (& Others)
[2009] EWHC 935 (Fam) 18/05/2009
Peacock v MGN Ltd
[2009] EWHC 769 (QB) 08/04/2009
Medway Council v G and Others
[2008] EWHC 1691 (Fam) 18/07/2008
W v JH & A County Council Limited
[2008] EWHC 399 (QB); [2009] EMLR 11 05/03/2008
Malik v Newspost Ltd & Ors
[2007] EWHC 3063 (QB) 19/12/2007
T (by her litigation friend the Official Solicitor) v BBC
[2007] EWHC 1683 (QB) 11/07/2007
Norfolk County Council v Webster & Others
[2006] EWHC 2733 (Fam); [2007] EMLR 199; (2007) HRLR 3 02/11/2006
Clayton v Clayton
[2006] EWCA Civ 878; [2006] Fam 83; [2006] 3 WLR 599; [2007] 1 All ER 1197; [2007] EMLR 65; (2007) 1 FLR 11; (2006) HRLR 34; (2007) UKHRR 264; The Times, 4 July 2006; The Independent, 29 June 2006 27/06/2006
BBC v Rochdale Metropolitan Borough Council, X and Y
[2005] EWHC 2862 (Fam); [2006] EMLR 117 08/12/2005
A (A Local Authority) v PD & Another
[2005] EWHC 1832 (Fam); [2005] EMLR 840 10/08/2005
Turcu v News Group Newspapers Ltd (No.2)
[2005] EWHC 799 (QB) 04/05/2005
Turcu v News Group Newspapers Ltd
21 March 2005 21/03/2005
Sarayiah v Suren & Others
[2004] EWHC 1981 (QB) 10/09/2004
Cox v Jones
[2004] EWHC 1006 (Ch) 06/05/2004
Re B (A Child) (Disclosure)
[2004] EWHC 411 (Fam); [2004] 2 FLR 142; [2004] Lloyds Rep Med 303 05/03/2004
Campbell v News Group Newspapers Ltd (No.2)
[2002] EWCA Civ 1143; [2002] EMLR 43 31/07/2002
Publishing
Campbell v News Group Newspapers Ltd (No.2)
[2002] EWCA Civ 1143; [2002] EMLR 43 31/07/2002
Articles
Media Access to the Family Courts: the Latest Proposals
By Adam Wolanski. 10 Dec 2009
Media Access to the Family Courts: Paper to President's Conference
By Adam Wolanski. 12 May 2009
Reforms to family court reporting
By Adam Wolanski. 30 Nov 2006
Reporting the courts
By Adam Wolanski. 13 Mar 2006
News
22 Jul 2010
Pitt & Jolie win 'false privacy' case
News of the World agrees to apologise and pay damages
27 Apr 2010
Doctor accepts substantial libel damages
Newspaper apologises for untrue front page terrorism allegations
24 Sep 2009
5RB's juniors: the Legal 500 verdict
What the legal directory had to say about 5RB's junior barristers
19 May 2009
Alfie's not the dad: injunction lifted
Family Division lifts ban on DNA test result showing 12-year-old did not father child
27 Oct 2008
Judge lifts adoption injunction
Mail on Sunday wins right to identify adoption father in organ transplant case
26 Sep 2008
5RB wins Chambers and Partners award
Set named ‘2008 Defamation and Privacy Set of the Year’ at Chambers Bar Awards
20 Mar 2008
Judge: no secrecy for royal blackmail trial
CPS application to hear evidence in secret dismissed
12 Mar 2008
Bid to injunct Channel 4 fails
Interview with Equatorial Guinea coup attempt 'manager' is broadcast
29 Feb 2008
Hung jury in abortion libel trial
Cardinal's spokesman suing over hypocrisy allegations faces a retrial
8 Nov 2007
5RB tops Chambers & Partners review
20 Barristers rated and recommended in the new annual survey
20 Sep 2007
5RB tops Legal 500
20 Barristers rated and recommended in Defamation, Privacy, Intellectual Property, Sport and Media & Entertainment Law
26 Jun 2007
'Abuse' couple win fight to keep their baby
Media present at dramatic end to controversial family case
6 Jun 2007
Hollingsworth bid for extra £25k fails
Belated attempt to amend Claim Form is rejected by the High Court
25 May 2007
Hollingsworth jury awards £75,000
... but he only gets £50,000 for Daily Mail punch-up libel
2 Nov 2006
Judge lifts family reporting ban
Media permitted to attend High Court care case for the first time
22 Sep 2006
'Smacking children' injunction bid fails
Judge rejects last minute application by NSPCC to stop ITV programme
27 Jun 2006
Father wins family report ban case
Court of Appeal rules that children may be identified after family cases end
19 Jun 2006
Dentist loses libel & harassment case
High Court dismisses claim against Newcastle Health Care Trust
12 May 2006
Afghan Hijackers name ban lifted
Judge removes reporting restrictions in Judicial Review proceedings
12 Apr 2006
News Group pays £100k to Rooney
England player settles libel case over nightclub slap claim
28 Feb 2006
Family law media reporting challenge
Court of Appeal hears test case over reporting restrictions in the family courts
9 Dec 2005
Social workers fail in bid for anonymity
No expectation of privacy for experts in family cases
24 Oct 2005
Chambers' Review: 5RB top again
20 barristers recommended for Media, Entertainment, Defamation, Privacy, Intellectual Property & Sports Law
4 May 2005
Beckham 'kidnap' libel claim fails
News of the World succeeds in justification defence against CFA claimant