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David Sherborne
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David Sherborne is a media and entertainment barrister practising at 5RB, who specialises in privacy, confidentiality and defamation, with additional expertise in sports and matrimonial cases. He is particularly well-known for his extensive reputation management practice, as well as his pre-publication injunction work.
Although the majority of the celebrities and high-profile individuals David has acted for are confidential, his representation of the following clients is a matter of public record: Diana, the late Princess of Wales; Benazhir Bhutto; Cherie and Tony Blair; Michael Douglas and Catherine Zeta-Jones; Ewan McGregor; Sienna Miller; Nicole Kidman; Jennifer Aniston; Mick Jagger; Liam and Noel Gallagher; the Spice Girls; Claudia Schiffer; Kate Moss; Katie Price and Peter Andre; Mike Tyson; Ricky Hatton; Don King; Lewis Hamilton; Rio Ferdinand; Kieron Dyer; David Beckham; Ashley Cole; Craig Bellamy; Ledley King and Sven Goren Eriksson. He has also advised many well-known companies, such as Elite Model Agency, WPP, Norwich Union, MORI and Hays plc, as well as most of the press and media organisations in this country.
David has been involved in a number of landmark privacy decisions, such as Douglas v Hello! and McKennitt v Ash. He also represented Max Mosley in his action against the News of the World, as well as in his application to the European Court of Human Rights. He is currently representing Ashley Cole in his privacy claim against News Group Newspapers and Mirror Group Newspapers.
He has also been responsble recently for obtaining harassment injunctions on behalf of several celebrities, including Sienna Miller, Lily Allen and Amy Winehouse, protecting them from being hounded by photographic agencies and paparazzi photographers.
As one of his additional specialisms, David has also carved himself a niche advising in relation to high net-worth or high-profile divorces, especially in respect of media, confidentiality and disclosure issues. As well as having been involved in almost all of the recent celebrity or big-money cases, he acted in L v L, the leading authority on the impact of the right to privacy on the Hildebrand principle in matrimonial proceedings. He also acted for the successful defendant in Marco Pierre White v Withers LLP striking out the well-known chef’s claim for breach of confidence against his former wife’s solicitors.
Recently, he obtained a six-figure sum for Sharon Osbourne against The Sun; he acted for Salman Rushdie in obtaining a declaration of falsity against publishers Blake Publishing, and represented the Bahraini prince, Sheikh Abdullah, in his contractual claim against Michael Jackson for breach of a recording contract.
Career
Called
1992 Called to the Bar
Education
University College School, London
New College, Oxford (Classics - 1st Class Honours)
College of Law, London (CPE exam - Commendation)
Inns of Court School of Law (Bar Finals: Very competent)
Qualifications
Senior and Junior Scholar of Gray's Inn
Areas of work
- Defamation
- Privacy and Confidence
- Sports Law
- Intellectual Property
- Human Rights
- Injunctive Relief
- Media Law
- Professional Negligence
Verbatim
“Privacy is not just about the right to be left alone. It’s far wider than that. It’s about the freedom to make personal choices. Choices which those outside the glare of celebrity take for granted but which for those within it may be seen as a luxury. What do I mean ? We make these choices everyday, without even thinking about it. We make choices as to what sort of personal information we disclose and to whom we choose to disclose it. You might only want to tell your partner or close family or you might wish to share something with a slightly wider group of friends or work colleagues. That doesn’t mean that you would choose to tell everyone, let alone a national newspaper. Although public figures have to accept a degree of interest and therefore intrusion into their private lives, why shouldn’t they share that freedom of personal choice?”
Speech to British Association for Sport & Law,
“Privacy and Personality rights” October 2003
Testimonials
...'a combination of it all: academically cutting edge; commercially aware; and juries love him' [Chambers and Partners 2003]
...one of 'the legal stars of 2003...the senior junior of choice in almost every high-profile media case of the year.' [The Lawyer's Hot 100 for 2004]
'The 'brilliant' David Sherborne is for many 'the first port of call' and noted as a 'highflyer with exceptional efficieny and speed' [Chambers and Partners 2006, where he was recommended in both the Defamation & Privacy and Media and Entertainment sections]
'...charismatic and clever... Sherborne ('a silk in junior's clothing') has represented many celebrities, including Jennifer Aniston and David Beckham, and is a favourite for privacy matters and pre-publication injunction work.' [Legal 500 2006, where he was recommended in both the Defamation & Privacy and Media and Entertainment sections]
Profiled in June 2003 Legal Business "Rising above Hollywood"
Shortlisted in The Lawyers' 2004 Awards as Barrister of the Year.
Publications
(26 Jan 2006)
Cases
Defamation
Fiddes v Channel Four Television Corporation & Ors (No 2) (CA)
[2010] EWCA Civ 730 29/06/2010
Hays Plc v Hartley
[2010] EWHC 1068 (QB) 17/05/2010
Dee v Telegraph Media Group Ltd (No 2)
[2010] EWHC 924 (QB) 28/04/2010
Bowman v MGN Ltd
[2010] EWHC 895 (QB) 26/04/2010
Fiddes v Channel 4 Television Corporation & Ors (CA)
[2010] EWCA Civ 516 24/03/2010
Winslet v Associated Newspapers Ltd
[2009] EWHC 2735 (QB) 03/11/2009
Desmond v Bower (CA)
[2009] EWCA Civ 667 07/07/2009
Johnson v MGN Ltd
[2009] EWHC 1481 (QB) 24/06/2009
Haji-Ioannou v (1) Dixon (2) Regus Group PLC (3) Regan
[2009] EWHC 178 (QB) 06/02/2009
Angel v Stainton & Another
[2006] EWHC 637 (QB) 28/03/2006
Lowe v Associated Newspapers Ltd
[2006] EWHC 320 (QB); [2007] 2 WLR 595; [2006] 3 All ER 357; [2006] EMLR 476; The Times, 29 March 2006 28/02/2006
Moss v Channel Five Broadcasting Ltd
3 February 2006 03/02/2006
McKeith v News Group Newspapers Ltd
[2005] EWHC 1162 (QB); [2005] EMLR 780 14/06/2005
Collins Stewart Limited & Another v The Financial Times Ltd (No 2)
[2005] EWHC 262 (QB); [2006] EMLR 100 25/02/2005
Richardson v Schwarzenegger & Others
[2004] EWHC 2422 (QB) 29/10/2004
Collins Stewart Ltd & Another v The Financial Times Ltd
[2004] EWHC 2337 (QB); [2005] EMLR 64 20/10/2004
Maccaba v Lichtenstein (No 2 - mode of trial)
2 April 2004 02/04/2004
Phillipps v Associated Newspapers Ltd & Another
[2004] EWHC 190 (QB); [2004] 1 WLR 2106; [2004] 2 All ER 455; [2004] EMLR 218 10/02/2004
King v Lewis
[2004] EWHC 168 (QB) 06/02/2004
Oduro v Time Life
[2003] EWHC 1787 (QB) 30/07/2003
Abu v MGN Ltd
[2002] EWHC 2345 (QB); [2003] 1 WLR 2201; [2003] 2 All ER 864; [2003] EMLR 21 07/11/2002
Cook & Carlton Communications Ltd v News Group Newspapers Ltd (No.2)
[2002] EWHC 1070 (QB) 21/05/2002
Elite Model Agency v BBC
24 May 2001 24/05/2001
Basham v Gregory (No.2)
[1998] EWCA Civ 1137 02/07/1998
Basham v Gregory
21 February 1996 21/02/1996
McDonalds Corp v Steel and Morris
[1995] 3 All ER 615 25/03/1994
Privacy and Confidence
Imerman v Imerman
[2009] EWHC 3486 (Fam) 11/12/2009
White v Withers LLP & Ors (CA)
[2009] EWCA Civ 1122 27/10/2009
White v Withers LLP & Dearle
[2008] EWHC 2821 19/11/2008
Mosley v News Group Newspapers Ltd (No 3)
[2008] EWHC 1777 (QB); [2008] EMLR 20; The Times, 30 July 2008 24/07/2008
Mosley v News Group Newspapers Ltd (No 2)
[2008] EWHC 2341 01/07/2008
Mosley v News Group Newspapers Ltd (No 1)
[2008] EWHC 687 (QB) 09/04/2008
L v L and H (a firm)
[2007] EWHC 140 (QB); [2007] 2 FLR 171 01/02/2007
McKennitt v Ash (CA)
[2006] EWCA Civ 1714; [2008] QB 73; [2007] 3 WLR 194; [2007] EMLR 113; The Times, 20 December 2006 14/12/2006
McKennitt v Ash (QBD)
[2005] EWHC 3003 (QB); [2006] EMLR 178 21/12/2005
A v B, C & D
[2005] EWHC 1651 (QB); [2005] EMLR 851; [2005] 28(8) IPD 28060 13/07/2005
Douglas v Hello! Ltd (No 8) (CA)
[2005] EWCA Civ 595; [2006] QB 125; [2005] 3 WLR 881; [2005] EMLR 609; The Times 24 May 2005; The Times 26 May 2005 18/05/2005
Douglas v Hello! Ltd (No.6)
[2003] EWHC 2629 (Ch); [2004] EMLR 13 07/11/2003
Douglas v Hello! Ltd (No.5)
[2003] EWHC 786 (Ch); [2003] 3 All ER 996; [2003] EMLR 641 11/04/2003
Douglas v Hello! Ltd (No.4)
[2003] EWCA Civ 332; [2003] EMLR 633 03/03/2003
Douglas v Hello! Ltd (No.2)
[2003] EWCA Civ 139; [2003] EMLR 585 12/02/2003
Douglas v Hello! Ltd (No.3)
[2003] EWHC 55 (Ch); [2003] EMLR 601 27/01/2003
Douglas v Hello! Ltd
[2001] QB 967; [2001] 2 WLR 992; [2001] 2 All ER 289; [2001] EMLR 199; [2001] FSR 732 21/12/2000
Sports Law
King v Lewis
[2004] EWHC 168 (QB) 06/02/2004
Data Protection
Douglas v Hello! Ltd (No 8) (CA)
[2005] EWCA Civ 595; [2006] QB 125; [2005] 3 WLR 881; [2005] EMLR 609; The Times 24 May 2005; The Times 26 May 2005 18/05/2005
Douglas v Hello! Ltd (No.6)
[2003] EWHC 2629 (Ch); [2004] EMLR 13 07/11/2003
Douglas v Hello! Ltd (No.5)
[2003] EWHC 786 (Ch); [2003] 3 All ER 996; [2003] EMLR 641 11/04/2003
Douglas v Hello! Ltd (No.4)
[2003] EWCA Civ 332; [2003] EMLR 633 03/03/2003
Douglas v Hello! Ltd (No.2)
[2003] EWCA Civ 139; [2003] EMLR 585 12/02/2003
Douglas v Hello! Ltd (No.3)
[2003] EWHC 55 (Ch); [2003] EMLR 601 27/01/2003
Douglas v Hello! Ltd
[2001] QB 967; [2001] 2 WLR 992; [2001] 2 All ER 289; [2001] EMLR 199; [2001] FSR 732 21/12/2000
General Common Law
Imerman v Imerman
[2009] EWHC 3486 (Fam) 11/12/2009
White v Withers LLP & Ors (CA)
[2009] EWCA Civ 1122 27/10/2009
Human Rights
Mosley v News Group Newspapers Ltd (No 3)
[2008] EWHC 1777 (QB); [2008] EMLR 20; The Times, 30 July 2008 24/07/2008
Mosley v News Group Newspapers Ltd (No 2)
[2008] EWHC 2341 01/07/2008
Mosley v News Group Newspapers Ltd (No 1)
[2008] EWHC 687 (QB) 09/04/2008
McKennitt v Ash (CA)
[2006] EWCA Civ 1714; [2008] QB 73; [2007] 3 WLR 194; [2007] EMLR 113; The Times, 20 December 2006 14/12/2006
McKennitt v Ash (QBD)
[2005] EWHC 3003 (QB); [2006] EMLR 178 21/12/2005
A v B, C & D
[2005] EWHC 1651 (QB); [2005] EMLR 851; [2005] 28(8) IPD 28060 13/07/2005
Douglas v Hello! Ltd (No 8) (CA)
[2005] EWCA Civ 595; [2006] QB 125; [2005] 3 WLR 881; [2005] EMLR 609; The Times 24 May 2005; The Times 26 May 2005 18/05/2005
Douglas v Hello! Ltd (No.6)
[2003] EWHC 2629 (Ch); [2004] EMLR 13 07/11/2003
Douglas v Hello! Ltd (No.5)
[2003] EWHC 786 (Ch); [2003] 3 All ER 996; [2003] EMLR 641 11/04/2003
Douglas v Hello! Ltd (No.4)
[2003] EWCA Civ 332; [2003] EMLR 633 03/03/2003
Douglas v Hello! Ltd (No.2)
[2003] EWCA Civ 139; [2003] EMLR 585 12/02/2003
Douglas v Hello! Ltd (No.3)
[2003] EWHC 55 (Ch); [2003] EMLR 601 27/01/2003
Douglas v Hello! Ltd
[2001] QB 967; [2001] 2 WLR 992; [2001] 2 All ER 289; [2001] EMLR 199; [2001] FSR 732 21/12/2000
Injunctive Relief
Mosley v News Group Newspapers Ltd (No 1)
[2008] EWHC 687 (QB) 09/04/2008
A v B, C & D
[2005] EWHC 1651 (QB); [2005] EMLR 851; [2005] 28(8) IPD 28060 13/07/2005
Douglas v Hello! Ltd (No 8) (CA)
[2005] EWCA Civ 595; [2006] QB 125; [2005] 3 WLR 881; [2005] EMLR 609; The Times 24 May 2005; The Times 26 May 2005 18/05/2005
Douglas v Hello! Ltd
[2001] QB 967; [2001] 2 WLR 992; [2001] 2 All ER 289; [2001] EMLR 199; [2001] FSR 732 21/12/2000
Media Law
Fiddes v Channel Four Television Corporation & Ors (No 2) (CA)
[2010] EWCA Civ 730 29/06/2010
Hays Plc v Hartley
[2010] EWHC 1068 (QB) 17/05/2010
Dee v Telegraph Media Group Ltd (No 2)
[2010] EWHC 924 (QB) 28/04/2010
Bowman v MGN Ltd
[2010] EWHC 895 (QB) 26/04/2010
Fiddes v Channel 4 Television Corporation & Ors (CA)
[2010] EWCA Civ 516 24/03/2010
Winslet v Associated Newspapers Ltd
[2009] EWHC 2735 (QB) 03/11/2009
Desmond v Bower (CA)
[2009] EWCA Civ 667 07/07/2009
Johnson v MGN Ltd
[2009] EWHC 1481 (QB) 24/06/2009
Mosley v News Group Newspapers Ltd (No 3)
[2008] EWHC 1777 (QB); [2008] EMLR 20; The Times, 30 July 2008 24/07/2008
Mosley v News Group Newspapers Ltd (No 2)
[2008] EWHC 2341 01/07/2008
Mosley v News Group Newspapers Ltd (No 1)
[2008] EWHC 687 (QB) 09/04/2008
McKennitt v Ash (CA)
[2006] EWCA Civ 1714; [2008] QB 73; [2007] 3 WLR 194; [2007] EMLR 113; The Times, 20 December 2006 14/12/2006
Lowe v Associated Newspapers Ltd
[2006] EWHC 320 (QB); [2007] 2 WLR 595; [2006] 3 All ER 357; [2006] EMLR 476; The Times, 29 March 2006 28/02/2006
Moss v Channel Five Broadcasting Ltd
3 February 2006 03/02/2006
McKennitt v Ash (QBD)
[2005] EWHC 3003 (QB); [2006] EMLR 178 21/12/2005
A v B, C & D
[2005] EWHC 1651 (QB); [2005] EMLR 851; [2005] 28(8) IPD 28060 13/07/2005
McKeith v News Group Newspapers Ltd
[2005] EWHC 1162 (QB); [2005] EMLR 780 14/06/2005
Douglas v Hello! Ltd (No 8) (CA)
[2005] EWCA Civ 595; [2006] QB 125; [2005] 3 WLR 881; [2005] EMLR 609; The Times 24 May 2005; The Times 26 May 2005 18/05/2005
Collins Stewart Limited & Another v The Financial Times Ltd (No 2)
[2005] EWHC 262 (QB); [2006] EMLR 100 25/02/2005
Collins Stewart Ltd & Another v The Financial Times Ltd
[2004] EWHC 2337 (QB); [2005] EMLR 64 20/10/2004
Phillipps v Associated Newspapers Ltd & Another
[2004] EWHC 190 (QB); [2004] 1 WLR 2106; [2004] 2 All ER 455; [2004] EMLR 218 10/02/2004
Douglas v Hello! Ltd (No.6)
[2003] EWHC 2629 (Ch); [2004] EMLR 13 07/11/2003
Oduro v Time Life
[2003] EWHC 1787 (QB) 30/07/2003
Douglas v Hello! Ltd (No.5)
[2003] EWHC 786 (Ch); [2003] 3 All ER 996; [2003] EMLR 641 11/04/2003
Douglas v Hello! Ltd (No.4)
[2003] EWCA Civ 332; [2003] EMLR 633 03/03/2003
Douglas v Hello! Ltd (No.2)
[2003] EWCA Civ 139; [2003] EMLR 585 12/02/2003
Douglas v Hello! Ltd (No.3)
[2003] EWHC 55 (Ch); [2003] EMLR 601 27/01/2003
Abu v MGN Ltd
[2002] EWHC 2345 (QB); [2003] 1 WLR 2201; [2003] 2 All ER 864; [2003] EMLR 21 07/11/2002
Cook & Carlton Communications Ltd v News Group Newspapers Ltd (No.2)
[2002] EWHC 1070 (QB) 21/05/2002
Elite Model Agency v BBC
24 May 2001 24/05/2001
Douglas v Hello! Ltd
[2001] QB 967; [2001] 2 WLR 992; [2001] 2 All ER 289; [2001] EMLR 199; [2001] FSR 732 21/12/2000
Basham v Gregory (No.2)
[1998] EWCA Civ 1137 02/07/1998
Basham v Gregory
21 February 1996 21/02/1996
Publishing
Mosley v News Group Newspapers Ltd (No 3)
[2008] EWHC 1777 (QB); [2008] EMLR 20; The Times, 30 July 2008 24/07/2008
Mosley v News Group Newspapers Ltd (No 1)
[2008] EWHC 687 (QB) 09/04/2008
McKennitt v Ash (QBD)
[2005] EWHC 3003 (QB); [2006] EMLR 178 21/12/2005
Phillipps v Associated Newspapers Ltd & Another
[2004] EWHC 190 (QB); [2004] 1 WLR 2106; [2004] 2 All ER 455; [2004] EMLR 218 10/02/2004
Oduro v Time Life
[2003] EWHC 1787 (QB) 30/07/2003
Cook & Carlton Communications Ltd v News Group Newspapers Ltd (No.2)
[2002] EWHC 1070 (QB) 21/05/2002
Elite Model Agency v BBC
24 May 2001 24/05/2001
Basham v Gregory (No.2)
[1998] EWCA Civ 1137 02/07/1998
Basham v Gregory
21 February 1996 21/02/1996
Articles
Recent Developments in Defamation
By David Sherborne. 15 Sep 2004
News
21 Jun 2010
Fiddes v Channel 4 libel claim settles
Claimant discontinues claim over 'Jacksons Are Coming' documentary as trial about to commence
10 Jun 2010
Fiddes trial to go ahead without jury
Master of the Rolls rejects appeal over judge alone trial
26 Apr 2010
Les Mis star wins libel compensation
But actor Simon Bowman ordered to pay majority of costs after rejecting settlement offers
4 Nov 2009
Cole settles privacy claim
Footballer’s claim over “kiss-and-tell” newspaper articles ends with settlement
3 Nov 2009
Kate Winslet wins libel apology ruling
Statements in Open Court available under offer of amends regime
24 Sep 2009
5RB's juniors: the Legal 500 verdict
What the legal directory had to say about 5RB's junior barristers
23 Jul 2009
Tom Bower wins Desmond libel case
Jury verdict in favour of defendant author over comments about Express owner
7 Jul 2009
Richard Desmond libel trial stopped
Trial of claim against Conrad Black biographer to restart on Monday
31 Oct 2008
Speedy trial for Sienna Miller
Trial of actress' harassment and privacy claim against Big Pictures to be expedited
30 Sep 2008
Sienna Miller wins photo damages
Actress succeeds in privacy action against the Daily Star
27 Aug 2008
Sir Salman Rushdie slurs declared false
Former protection officer apologises for allegations about author in book
14 Jul 2008
Max Mosley privacy trial concludes
5RB's James Price QC and Mark Warby QC deliver closing speeches
1 Jul 2008
Mosley damages claim survives
Attempt to strike out claim for exemplary damages in privacy action fails
9 Apr 2008
Mosley refused 'orgy' injunction
'No point' in preventing News of the World showing video on website, rules Eady J
18 Jan 2008
Sienna Miller wins privacy action
Actress granted default judgment and injunction against photographer
23 Nov 2007
Blairs win privacy payout
Daily Mail pays damages to charity for long-lens holiday photographs
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
14 Mar 2007
WPP libel and privacy trial begins
Sir Martin Sorrell claims former WPP consultant responsible for blog and email
14 Dec 2006
New blow for kiss and tell?
McKennitt v Ash: Court of Appeal hands down judgment in major privacy case
3 Feb 2006
Further cocaine allegation allowed in Moss libel case
Supermodel must answer drug claims in action against Five
26 Oct 2005
£250,000 damages for Rupert Lowe
Southampton FC Chairman wins libel case against The Times
24 Oct 2005
Chambers' Review: 5RB top again
20 barristers recommended for Media, Entertainment, Defamation, Privacy, Intellectual Property & Sports Law
20 Oct 2004
Collins Stewart damages claim trimmed
High Court strikes out part of special damages claim against FT