Godwin Busuttil

Picture of Godwin Busuttil

Profile

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

27 Sep 2011

'Truly experts'

—The Legal 500 review 2012

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

5 Nov 2010

5RB tops directory ranking

Chambers & Partners 2011 edition praises set

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

3 Jun 2009

EMLRs move to 5RB

Entertainment and Media Law Reports have new Editors

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

27 Nov 2007

Gatley Supplement now on sale

Leading defamation practitioners' text now fully updated

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

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

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

21 Sep 2005

5RB tops annual Legal 500 Review

17 barristers named as leaders in their field

24 Mar 2005

Ramsden fined for doping rule breaches

Trainer fined after prohibited substance finding

15 Mar 2005

Jockey banned for drugs protocol breach

Jockey Club suspends Brett Doyle for 3 months for failing to provide sample

5 Nov 2004

5RB top in Chambers & Partners Review

Seventeen 5RB members ranked

21 Oct 2004

Global acclaim for Gatley

10th edition is 'the definitive work'

24 Sep 2004

5RB top in Legal 500 Review

15 barristers named as leaders in their field

18 May 2004

Court of Appeal gives no-win no-fee guidance

Cost-capping sanctioned in CFA cases

14 May 2004

Maxine Carr Identity Injunction Upheld

Protection necessary after death threats


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