Adam Wolanski

Picture of 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

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

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 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

[2004] EWHC 2554 (QB); The Times, 1 December 2004 11/11/2004

Harassment

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

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

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 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

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

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

17 Nov 2009

Peacock settles libel action

MGN pays damages over Celebs on Sunday article

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

18 Jul 2008

Media gain access to care case

Latest ruling on family court privacy

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

24 Oct 2006

5RB tops Chambers & Partners review

Nineteen barristers recommended in Annual Survey

27 Sep 2006

5RB tops Legal 500 survey

Twenty barristers recommended across core practice areas

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

21 Sep 2005

5RB tops annual Legal 500 Review

17 barristers named as leaders in their field

4 May 2005

Beckham 'kidnap' libel claim fails

News of the World succeeds in justification defence against CFA claimant

5 Nov 2004

5RB top in Chambers & Partners Review

Seventeen 5RB members ranked

24 Sep 2004

5RB top in Legal 500 Review

15 barristers named as leaders in their field


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