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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. He acted for J.K. Rowling and her family in the landmark privacy claim Murray v Big Pictures (UK) Ltd and for Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie in their succesful 'false privacy' claim against the News of the World. More recently he represented the claimant in Tamiz v Google Inc on his appeal against Eady J's decision to put a stop to his libel claim, partly on the basis that Google was not a publisher at common law, for the defendant in Cammish v Hughes, another libel case which went to the Court of Appeal on a Jameel v Dow Jones Inc issue, for the claimant in the privacy injunction cases of Gold v Cox, STU v UVW and Hirschfeld v McGrath, and for the defendant in Zinda v ARK Academies. He is accredited to work on a public access basis.
Godwin is a Contributing Editor of 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 contributed to the first edition of The Law of Privacy and the Media. Last year he became a visiting Senior Fellow of the University of Melbourne, Australia, teaching the LLM Defamation Law course there in November 2012. He was recently appointed a panel member of the Bar Disciplinary Tribunal and Adjudications Service (formerly the COIC Disciplinary Panel), the regulatory tribunal that adjudicates on complaints of professional misconduct against barristers. He is also an accredited mediator.
He also has a sports law practice. He has represented the Jockey Club (now the British Horseracing 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 published articles in the Journal of Media Law and the Entertainment Law Review. He has also contributed to television and radio broadcasts on media law topics including BBC Radio 4's Law in Action. He edited 5RB's contribution to the defamation section of LexisNexis's new ®PSL IP & IT project.
Godwin has a special interest in medical issues having been the BMJ Publishing Group's main pre-publication legal adviser for over 10 years. He is a member of the Cochrane Library Oversight Committee whose role is to resolve disputes related to the content of the Cochrane Library. The Library consists of a database of systematic reviews of medical research and is recognised globally as a key resource in evidence-based medicine.
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 Hardwicke Scholar
Inns of Court School of Law, London; BACFI Prize for Best Performance in Company & Commercial Law
Pegasus Scholar to USA
Senior Fellow in Law, University of Melbourne
Qualifications
Accredited Mediator (ADR Group)
Panel member, Bar Disciplinary Tribunal and Adjudications Service
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
- Professional Negligence
Verbatim
"...offers 'thorough opinions on tricky matters'." Chambers and Partners 2013
"Very conscientious and meticulous, and doesn't cut any corners." Chambers and Partners 2012
"'Always thorough and proactive'...'rated very highly for his technical skills' and 'ability to judge what a case is really about'." Legal 500 2012
Testimonials
Recommended consistently as a Leading Junior in Defamation by Legal 500 and in Defamation / Privacy by Chambers and Partners
"Highly industrious and a man who knows his stuff" Chambers and Partners 2010
"an extremely astute junior who provides thorough and analytical advice...excellent on his feet" Chambers and Partners 2009
"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
(17 Oct 2002)
(6 Dec 2008)
Cases
Defamation
Euromoney Institutional Investor Plc v Aviation News Ltd
[2013] EWHC 1505 (QB) 12/06/2013
Tamiz v Google Inc
[2013] EWCA Civ 68 14/02/2013
Cammish v Hughes (CA)
[2012] EWCA Civ 1655 12/12/2012
Cammish v Hughes
[2012] EWHC 976 (QB) 20/04/2012
Zinda v ARK Academies
[2011] EWHC 3394 (QB) 16/12/2011
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
Gold v Cox (No.2)
[2012] EWHC 367 (QB) 24/02/2012
Gold v Cox (No.1)
[2012] EWHC 272 (QB) 17/02/2012
STU v UVW
[2011] EWHC 3133 (QB) 30/11/2011
Hirschfeld v McGrath
[2011] EWHC 249 (QB) 15/02/2011
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
Hirschfeld v McGrath
[2011] EWHC 249 (QB) 15/02/2011
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
Foreign Jurisdictions
Lonzim Plc & others v Sprague
[2009] EWHC 2838 (QB) 11/11/2009
General Common Law
Carden v The Jockey Club
3 July 2000 03/07/2000
Harassment
Gold v Cox (No.2)
[2012] EWHC 367 (QB) 24/02/2012
Gold v Cox (No.1)
[2012] EWHC 272 (QB) 17/02/2012
STU v UVW
[2011] EWHC 3133 (QB) 30/11/2011
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
Gold v Cox (No.2)
[2012] EWHC 367 (QB) 24/02/2012
Gold v Cox (No.1)
[2012] EWHC 272 (QB) 17/02/2012
STU v UVW
[2011] EWHC 3133 (QB) 30/11/2011
Hirschfeld v McGrath
[2011] EWHC 249 (QB) 15/02/2011
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
Malicious Falsehood
Euromoney Institutional Investor Plc v Aviation News Ltd
[2013] EWHC 1505 (QB) 12/06/2013
Media Law
Tamiz v Google Inc
[2013] EWCA Civ 68 14/02/2013
Gold v Cox (No.2)
[2012] EWHC 367 (QB) 24/02/2012
Gold v Cox (No.1)
[2012] EWHC 272 (QB) 17/02/2012
Hirschfeld v McGrath
[2011] EWHC 249 (QB) 15/02/2011
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
13 Feb 2013
Google can be liable as publisher
Court of Appeal clarifies law for ISPs but dismisses claim
24 Feb 2012
Nanny and cleaner book on Jaqueline Gold restrained
Ex employees agree to withhold publication
28 Oct 2011
5RB tops Chambers and Partners 2012
Adam Wolanski wins Defamation and Privacy Junior Barrister of the Year
30 Nov 2010
New Supplement to Gatley published
The First Supplement to the 11th edition of Gatley on Libel and Slander has been published by Sweet & Maxwell
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