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Godwin Busuttil
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Godwin is a leading junior specialising in all areas of media law and acts for both claimants and defendants. He has practised at 5RB since 1995. Since then he has represented clients not only in England but in cases proceeding before the courts of Hong Kong, Brunei and the Cayman Islands. Recently he has acted for the claimants in the Adelson libel litigation and in the landmark privacy claim Murray v Big Pictures (UK) Ltd and for the defendant in the Lonzim plc v Sprague defamation case. He is currently representing Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie in their ongoing privacy claim against the News of the World. He has a special interest in medical / biomedical issues having been the BMJ Publishing Group's main pre-publication legal adviser for over 10 years. He has been acting for Dr Peter Wilmshurst in his defence of the libel action brought against him by NMT Medical Inc.
Godwin also has a sports law practice. He has represented the Jockey Club (now the Horseracing Regulatory Authority) at several Enquiries and Appeals and has also appeared on a number of occasions before the Disciplinary Commission of the Football Association.
Godwin regularly writes and gives talks on media law issues. He has also contributed to press articles and media broadcasts including BBC Radio 4's Law in Action on such topics. He is a Contributing Editor to Gatley on Libel and Slander, the leading practitioners' work on the subject, and the Co-Editor (with former member of chambers HH Judge Richard Parkes QC) of the Entertainment and Media Law Reports. He is also an Accredited Mediator.
Career
Called
1994 Called to the Bar
Education
Jesus College, Cambridge (BA, MPhil); Foundation Exhibitioner
City University, London, (Diploma in Law - Commendation)
Lincoln's Inn; Mansfield and Hardwick Scholar
Inns of Court School of Law, London; BACFI Prize for Best Performance in Company & Commercial Law
Pegasus Scholar to USA
Qualifications
Accredited Mediator (ADR Group)
Areas of work
- Defamation
- Privacy and Confidence
- Sports Law
- Data Protection
- Reporting the Courts
- Pre-publication Advice
- Mediation
- Public Access
- Contempt
- Copyright
- Foreign Jurisdictions
- Human Rights
- Injunctive Relief
- Malicious Falsehood
- Media Law
Verbatim
"an extremely astute junior who provides thorough and analytical advice...excellent on his feet"
[Chambers and Partners 2009]
Testimonials
Recommended consistently as a Leading Junior in Defamation by Legal 500 and in Defamation / Privacy by Chambers and Partners
"Excellent...a good man to have in the ring with you" Chambers and Partners 2008
"Conscientious...good on detail" Chambers and Partners 2007
"totally reliable...offers good judgement and an incisive legal mind...technically first class" Chambers and Partners 2006
"...earned respect for his clear understanding of the practice area" Chambers and Partners 2005
"a dedicated barrister who 'puts in all the hours needed' for his clients" Chambers and Partners 2003-4
Languages
French; some Italian
Memberships
CIPIL
ARDL
Publications
(26 Jan 2006)
(6 Dec 2008)
Cases
Defamation
Lonzim Plc & others v Sprague
[2009] EWHC 2838 (QB) 11/11/2009
Clarke t/a Elumina Iberica UK v Bain & Prolink Holdings Corp
[2008] EWHC 2636 (QB) 19/11/2008
Adelson v Associated Newspapers Ltd (No 3)
[2008] EWHC 278 (QB); [2009] EMLR 10 19/02/2008
Adelson v Associated Newspapers Ltd (No. 2)
[2007] EWHC 3028 (QB) 19/12/2007
Adelson v Associated Newspapers Ltd (CA)
[2007] EWCA Civ 701; [2008] 1 WLR 585; [2007] 4 All ER 330; [2008] EMLR 324; The Times, 18 July 2007 09/07/2007
Adelson v Associated Newspapers Ltd
[2007] EWHC 997 (QB); The Times, 10 May 2007 01/05/2007
Musa King v Telegraph Group Ltd (CA)
[2004] EWCA Civ 613; [2005] 1 WLR 2282; [2004] EMLR 429 18/05/2004
Bataille v Newland & Ors
[2002] EWHC 1692 (QB) 31/07/2002
Mills v MGN Ltd
[2002] EWHC 1384 (QB) 05/07/2002
Mark v Associated Newspapers Limited
[2002] EWCA Civ 772; [2002] EMLR 839 30/05/2002
Cook & Carlton Communications Ltd v News Group Newspapers Ltd (No.2)
[2002] EWHC 1070 (QB) 21/05/2002
Gaddafi v Telegraph Group Ltd (No.3)
12 March 2002 12/03/2002
Cook & Carlton Communications plc v News Group Newspapers Ltd
[2001] EWCA Civ 1644; [2002] EMLR 299 08/11/2001
Branson v Bower
[2001] EWCA Civ 791; [2001] EMLR 800 24/05/2001
Gaddafi v Telegraph Group Ltd
[1998] EWCA Civ 1626; [2000] EMLR 431 28/10/1999
Privacy and Confidence
Murray v Big Pictures (UK) Ltd (CA)
[2008] EWCA Civ 446; [2008] 3 WLR 1360; [2008] EMLR 399; [2008] EHRR 736; [2008] 2 FLR 599; [2008] HRLR 33; [2008] UKHRR 736; The Times, 12 May 2008 07/05/2008
Murray v Express Newspapers plc & Another
[2007] EWHC 1908 (Ch); [2007] EMLR 583; [2007] 3 FCR 331; [2007] HRLR 44; [2007] UKHRR 1322; [2007] Fam Law 1073; (2007) 157 NLJ 1199; (2008) 1 FLR 704; The Times, 4 October 2007 07/08/2007
Re Ward; BBC v CAFCASS Legal & Ors
[2007] EWHC 616 (Fam); [2007] 2 FLR 765; [2007] Fam Law 704 30/03/2007
Carr v News Group Newspapers Ltd & Others
14 May 2004 14/05/2004
Covance Laboratories v J
20 & 27 March 2003 27/03/2003
Jockey Club v Buffham
[2002] EWHC 1866 (QB); [2003] QB 462; [2003] 2 WLR 178; [2003] EMLR 111 12/09/2002
Medway Council v BBC
[2002] 1 FLR 104; [2001] All ER (D) 243 (Oct) 11/09/2001
Nicholls v BBC
[1999] EMLR 791 29/03/1999
Re G (Celebrities: Publicity)
[1999] 1 FLR 409 23/10/1998
Sports Law
Jockey Club v Buffham
[2002] EWHC 1866 (QB); [2003] QB 462; [2003] 2 WLR 178; [2003] EMLR 111 12/09/2002
Carden v The Jockey Club
3 July 2000 03/07/2000
Data Protection
Murray v Big Pictures (UK) Ltd (CA)
[2008] EWCA Civ 446; [2008] 3 WLR 1360; [2008] EMLR 399; [2008] EHRR 736; [2008] 2 FLR 599; [2008] HRLR 33; [2008] UKHRR 736; The Times, 12 May 2008 07/05/2008
Murray v Express Newspapers plc & Another
[2007] EWHC 1908 (Ch); [2007] EMLR 583; [2007] 3 FCR 331; [2007] HRLR 44; [2007] UKHRR 1322; [2007] Fam Law 1073; (2007) 157 NLJ 1199; (2008) 1 FLR 704; The Times, 4 October 2007 07/08/2007
Reporting the Courts
Re Ward; BBC v CAFCASS Legal & Ors
[2007] EWHC 616 (Fam); [2007] 2 FLR 765; [2007] Fam Law 704 30/03/2007
Medway Council v BBC
[2002] 1 FLR 104; [2001] All ER (D) 243 (Oct) 11/09/2001
Re G (Celebrities: Publicity)
[1999] 1 FLR 409 23/10/1998
Contempt
Re Ward; BBC v CAFCASS Legal & Ors
[2007] EWHC 616 (Fam); [2007] 2 FLR 765; [2007] Fam Law 704 30/03/2007
Jockey Club v Buffham
[2002] EWHC 1866 (QB); [2003] QB 462; [2003] 2 WLR 178; [2003] EMLR 111 12/09/2002
General Common Law
Carden v The Jockey Club
3 July 2000 03/07/2000
Human Rights
Re Ward; BBC v CAFCASS Legal & Ors
[2007] EWHC 616 (Fam); [2007] 2 FLR 765; [2007] Fam Law 704 30/03/2007
Musa King v Telegraph Group Ltd (CA)
[2004] EWCA Civ 613; [2005] 1 WLR 2282; [2004] EMLR 429 18/05/2004
Carr v News Group Newspapers Ltd & Others
14 May 2004 14/05/2004
Jockey Club v Buffham
[2002] EWHC 1866 (QB); [2003] QB 462; [2003] 2 WLR 178; [2003] EMLR 111 12/09/2002
Mark v Associated Newspapers Limited
[2002] EWCA Civ 772; [2002] EMLR 839 30/05/2002
Injunctive Relief
Lonzim Plc & others v Sprague
[2009] EWHC 2838 (QB) 11/11/2009
Re Ward; BBC v CAFCASS Legal & Ors
[2007] EWHC 616 (Fam); [2007] 2 FLR 765; [2007] Fam Law 704 30/03/2007
Carr v News Group Newspapers Ltd & Others
14 May 2004 14/05/2004
Covance Laboratories v J
20 & 27 March 2003 27/03/2003
Jockey Club v Buffham
[2002] EWHC 1866 (QB); [2003] QB 462; [2003] 2 WLR 178; [2003] EMLR 111 12/09/2002
Medway Council v BBC
[2002] 1 FLR 104; [2001] All ER (D) 243 (Oct) 11/09/2001
Nicholls v BBC
[1999] EMLR 791 29/03/1999
Re G (Celebrities: Publicity)
[1999] 1 FLR 409 23/10/1998
Media Law
Clarke t/a Elumina Iberica UK v Bain & Prolink Holdings Corp
[2008] EWHC 2636 (QB) 19/11/2008
Murray v Big Pictures (UK) Ltd (CA)
[2008] EWCA Civ 446; [2008] 3 WLR 1360; [2008] EMLR 399; [2008] EHRR 736; [2008] 2 FLR 599; [2008] HRLR 33; [2008] UKHRR 736; The Times, 12 May 2008 07/05/2008
Adelson v Associated Newspapers Ltd (No 3)
[2008] EWHC 278 (QB); [2009] EMLR 10 19/02/2008
Adelson v Associated Newspapers Ltd (No. 2)
[2007] EWHC 3028 (QB) 19/12/2007
Murray v Express Newspapers plc & Another
[2007] EWHC 1908 (Ch); [2007] EMLR 583; [2007] 3 FCR 331; [2007] HRLR 44; [2007] UKHRR 1322; [2007] Fam Law 1073; (2007) 157 NLJ 1199; (2008) 1 FLR 704; The Times, 4 October 2007 07/08/2007
Adelson v Associated Newspapers Ltd (CA)
[2007] EWCA Civ 701; [2008] 1 WLR 585; [2007] 4 All ER 330; [2008] EMLR 324; The Times, 18 July 2007 09/07/2007
Adelson v Associated Newspapers Ltd
[2007] EWHC 997 (QB); The Times, 10 May 2007 01/05/2007
Re Ward; BBC v CAFCASS Legal & Ors
[2007] EWHC 616 (Fam); [2007] 2 FLR 765; [2007] Fam Law 704 30/03/2007
Musa King v Telegraph Group Ltd (CA)
[2004] EWCA Civ 613; [2005] 1 WLR 2282; [2004] EMLR 429 18/05/2004
Carr v News Group Newspapers Ltd & Others
14 May 2004 14/05/2004
Jockey Club v Buffham
[2002] EWHC 1866 (QB); [2003] QB 462; [2003] 2 WLR 178; [2003] EMLR 111 12/09/2002
Mills v MGN Ltd
[2002] EWHC 1384 (QB) 05/07/2002
Cook & Carlton Communications Ltd v News Group Newspapers Ltd (No.2)
[2002] EWHC 1070 (QB) 21/05/2002
Gaddafi v Telegraph Group Ltd (No.3)
12 March 2002 12/03/2002
Cook & Carlton Communications plc v News Group Newspapers Ltd
[2001] EWCA Civ 1644; [2002] EMLR 299 08/11/2001
Medway Council v BBC
[2002] 1 FLR 104; [2001] All ER (D) 243 (Oct) 11/09/2001
Branson v Bower
[2001] EWCA Civ 791; [2001] EMLR 800 24/05/2001
Gaddafi v Telegraph Group Ltd
[1998] EWCA Civ 1626; [2000] EMLR 431 28/10/1999
Nicholls v BBC
[1999] EMLR 791 29/03/1999
Re G (Celebrities: Publicity)
[1999] 1 FLR 409 23/10/1998
Publishing
Murray v Big Pictures (UK) Ltd (CA)
[2008] EWCA Civ 446; [2008] 3 WLR 1360; [2008] EMLR 399; [2008] EHRR 736; [2008] 2 FLR 599; [2008] HRLR 33; [2008] UKHRR 736; The Times, 12 May 2008 07/05/2008
Mills v MGN Ltd
[2002] EWHC 1384 (QB) 05/07/2002
Mark v Associated Newspapers Limited
[2002] EWCA Civ 772; [2002] EMLR 839 30/05/2002
Cook & Carlton Communications Ltd v News Group Newspapers Ltd (No.2)
[2002] EWHC 1070 (QB) 21/05/2002
Gaddafi v Telegraph Group Ltd (No.3)
12 March 2002 12/03/2002
Cook & Carlton Communications plc v News Group Newspapers Ltd
[2001] EWCA Civ 1644; [2002] EMLR 299 08/11/2001
Branson v Bower
[2001] EWCA Civ 791; [2001] EMLR 800 24/05/2001
Gaddafi v Telegraph Group Ltd
[1998] EWCA Civ 1626; [2000] EMLR 431 28/10/1999
Articles
Interim Injunctions and the Overlap between Privacy and Libel
By Godwin Busuttil and Patrick McCafferty. 14 Jul 2010
Preventing Publication of Private Information
By Godwin Busuttil. 2 Dec 2009
Reportage: A Not Entirely Neutral Report
By Godwin Busuttil. 3 Feb 2009
Disclosure of journalists’ sources revisited
By Godwin Busuttil. 1 Jul 2003
Prior restraint of media publications
By Godwin Busuttil. 1 May 2003
Criminal contempt – third party liability
By Godwin Busuttil. 28 Mar 2003
Damages for press republication of slander
By Godwin Busuttil. 28 Nov 2002
Disclosure of journalists’ sources
By Godwin Busuttil. 28 Oct 2002
Court’s power to overturn awards of damages
By Godwin Busuttil. 28 Apr 2002
Series of newspaper articles can constitute harassment
By Godwin Busuttil. 28 Oct 2001
Criminal contempt – third party liability
By Godwin Busuttil. 28 Jun 2001
Law of confidence extended to protect right to life
By Godwin Busuttil. 28 May 2001
Court recognises right of privacy
By Godwin Busuttil. 28 Apr 2001
News
22 Jul 2010
Pitt & Jolie win 'false privacy' case
News of the World agrees to apologise and pay damages
24 Sep 2009
5RB's juniors: the Legal 500 verdict
What the legal directory had to say about 5RB's junior barristers
21 Nov 2008
New edition of Gatley out soon
11th edition of leading practitioner's text on libel and slander on sale in December
28 Oct 2008
Lords refuse leave in Murray
Pushchair privacy claim brought by J.K. Rowling's son to proceed to trial
7 May 2008
Pushchair privacy appeal succeeds
CA reinstates photograph claim and says it must proceed to trial
19 Mar 2008
Adelson accepts apology, damages
Associated Newspapers apologises to US entrepreneur and settles libel claim
10 Mar 2008
Pushchair privacy case goes to appeal
J.K. Rowling's son seeks to overturn High Court judgment on photograph
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
22 Jun 2007
J. K. Rowling's son in privacy fight
Photo agency seeks dismissal of claim in relation to pictures of author's child
20 Dec 2005
Trainer fined for destroying horse
Jockey Club finds Williams acted contrary to owner’s instructions
24 Nov 2005
New media law titles available
New edition of Arlidge, Eady & Smith on Contempt; new Supplements to Gatley and The Law of Privacy & The Media
24 Oct 2005
Chambers' Review: 5RB top again
20 barristers recommended for Media, Entertainment, Defamation, Privacy, Intellectual Property & Sports Law
15 Mar 2005
Jockey banned for drugs protocol breach
Jockey Club suspends Brett Doyle for 3 months for failing to provide sample