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Justin Rushbrooke QC
Profile
Justin Rushbrooke joined chambers in 1994 and took silk in 2013. He was consistently listed as a Leading Junior (Band 1) in the ‘Chambers’ and ‘Legal 500’ directories, and was nominated for Junior of the Year (Defamation) in the Chambers 2009 Bar Awards. He has been involved in numerous high profile cases and some of the landmark decisions, at first instance, in the Court of Appeal and the House of Lords.
His claimant clients have included many well known figures from the worlds of entertainment, the media, sport and politics. Over the years he has acted both for and against nearly all the major newspaper groups. He specialises in defamation, media and entertainment law, in particular corporate libel claims and cases involving the Internet (including disclosure orders) and freezing injunctions; privacy and confidence; contempt; costs/CFAs; and contractual disputes.
He has been a lead author of one of the chapters in The Law of Privacy and The Media (OUP, 2002), and has often spoken and written on media-law related subjects. He is a member of the Bar Council’s working group on the civil litigation reforms currently being implemented by Lord Justice Jackson.
Landmark cases in which he has appeared include:
- Jameel v Wall Street Journal Europe (Reynolds privilege: acting for Mr Jameel at trial and in the Court of Appeal)
- Polanski v Condé Nast (evidence by VCF: acting for Mr Polanski in the House of Lords)
- Maccaba v Lichtenstein (acting for the defendant in the ‘indecent proposal’ slander trial, the longest in British legal history)
- Burstein v Times Newspapers (mitigation of damages: acting for the defendant at trial and in the Court of Appeal)
- Godfrey v Demon Internet (liability of ISPs: acting for the claimant)
- Berezovsky v Michaels & Forbes Inc. (jurisdiction: acting for the claimant in the House of Lords)
Other recent and notable cases include:
- Thornton v Telegraph Media Group Ltd (QB, CA pending)
- Pell v Express Newspapers (2009) (QB, CA)
- Tesco Stores Ltd v Guardian News & Media Ltd [2009] EMLR 5
Career
Called
1992 Called to the Bar
2013 Silk
Education
Harrow School (Open Entrance Scholar)
Balliol College, Oxford University (Open Entrance Scholar in Classics); MA (degrees in Classics and Law)
Inns of Court School of Law; Bar Vocational Course
Areas of work
- Defamation
- Privacy and Confidence
- Data Protection
- Pre-publication Advice
- Contempt
- Copyright
- Harassment
- Human Rights
- Passing off
Verbatim
"not afraid to get really stuck into the detail - he’s a human computer" - Chambers & Partners, 2009 edition
"[one of] the best three juniors at the libel Bar” – The Legal 500, 2009 edition
Languages
French
Publications
(17 Oct 2002)
Cases
Defamation
Baturina v Times Newspapers Ltd (CA)
[2011] EWCA Civ 308 23/03/2011
Thornton v Telegraph Media Group Ltd (No 3)
[2011] EWHC 159 04/02/2011
McLaughlin & Ors v London Borough of Lambeth & Khan
[2010] EWHC 2726 (QB) 02/11/2010
Thornton v Telegraph Media Group Ltd (No 2)
[2010] EWHC 1414 (QB); [2010] EMLR 25 16/06/2010
Thornton v Telegraph Media Group Ltd
[2009] EWHC 2863 (QB) 12/11/2009
McLaughlin & Ors v Newall
[2009] EWHC 1925 (QB) 31/07/2009
Tesco Stores Ltd v Guardian News & Media Ltd and Rusbridger
[2008] EWHC (QB); [2009] EMLR 5 29/07/2008
Mond & Ors v Mason & Ors
[2008] EWHC 1649 (QB) 24/06/2008
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 (Costs)
2 December 2005 02/12/2005
Jameel & Another v Times Newspapers Ltd (No.2)
[2005] EWHC 1219 (QB) 15/06/2005
Milne v David Price Solicitors & Advocates
7 March 2005 07/03/2005
Collins Stewart Limited & Another v The Financial Times Ltd (No 2)
[2005] EWHC 262 (QB); [2006] EMLR 100 25/02/2005
Polanski v Conde Nast Publications Ltd (HL)
[2005] UKHL 10; [2005] 1 WLR 637; [2005] 1 All ER 945; [2005] EMLR 287; The Times, 11 Feb 2005; The Independent, 16 Feb 2005 10/02/2005
Jameel & Another v Wall Street Journal Europe (No.2) (CA)
[2005] EWCA Civ 74; [2005] QB 904; [2005] 2 WLR 1577; [2005] EMLR 377; [2005] 4 All ER 356; The Times 14 Feb 2005; The Independent 9 Feb 2005 03/02/2005
Jameel (Yousef) v Dow Jones & Co. Inc.
[2005] EWCA Civ 75; [2005] QB 946; [2005] 2 WLR 1614; [2005] EMLR 353; The Times 14 Feb 2005; The Independent 10 Feb 2005 03/02/2005
Hewitt & Others v Grunwald & Others
[2004] EWHC 2959 (QB) 21/12/2004
Collins Stewart Ltd & Another v The Financial Times Ltd
[2004] EWHC 2337 (QB); [2005] EMLR 64 20/10/2004
King v Lewis & Others (CA)
[2004] EWCA Civ 1329; [2005] EMLR 45; The Independent, 11 November 2004 19/10/2004
Maccaba v Lichtenstein (No 2 - mode of trial)
2 April 2004 02/04/2004
King v Lewis
[2004] EWHC 168 (QB) 06/02/2004
Jameel & Another v Wall Street Journal Europe
[2004] EWHC 37 (QB); [2004] EMLR 196 20/01/2004
Jameel & Another v Wall Street Journal Europe (CA)
[2003] EWCA Civ 1694; [2004] EMLR 6 26/11/2003
Jameel & Another v Times Newspapers Ltd
[2003] EWHC 2609 (QB) 07/11/2003
Sharma v Jay & Others
15 April 2003 15/04/2003
Bennett & Another v BBC & Another
[2003] EWHC 553 (QB) 20/03/2003
Clarke v Davey
[2002] EWHC 2342 (QB) 08/11/2002
Wilkey & Another v BBC
[2002] EWCA Civ 1561; [2003] 1 WLR 1; [2002] 4 All ER 1177 22/10/2002
McManus v Beckham
[2002] EWCA Civ 939; [2002] EMLR 880; [2002] 1 WLR 2982 04/07/2002
Gillick v Brook Advisory Centres & Another (No.2)
12 March 2002 12/03/2002
Burstein v Times Newspapers Ltd
[2000] EWCA Civ 338; [2001] 1 WLR 579; [2001] EMLR 364 20/12/2000
Berezovsky & Another v Forbes Inc & Another
[2000] UKHL 25; [2000] 1 WLR 1004; [2000] 2 All ER 986; [2000] EMLR 643 11/05/2000
Godfrey v Demon Internet Ltd
[1999] EWHC QB 240; [1999] 4 All ER 342 23/04/1999
Aitken v Preston and Others
[1997] EMLR 415 15/05/1997
Privacy and Confidence
OPQ v BJM & CJM
[2011] EWHC 1059 (QB) 20/04/2011
Ambrosiadou v Coward (CA)
[2011] EWCA Civ 409 12/04/2011
Sports Law
King v Lewis & Others (CA)
[2004] EWCA Civ 1329; [2005] EMLR 45; The Independent, 11 November 2004 19/10/2004
King v Lewis
[2004] EWHC 168 (QB) 06/02/2004
Foreign Jurisdictions
King v Lewis & Others (CA)
[2004] EWCA Civ 1329; [2005] EMLR 45; The Independent, 11 November 2004 19/10/2004
King v Lewis
[2004] EWHC 168 (QB) 06/02/2004
General Common Law
Mond & Ors v Mason & Ors
[2008] EWHC 1649 (QB) 24/06/2008
Sharma v Jay & Others
15 April 2003 15/04/2003
Harassment
Sharma v Jay & Others
15 April 2003 15/04/2003
Human Rights
McLaughlin & Ors v London Borough of Lambeth & Khan
[2010] EWHC 2726 (QB) 02/11/2010
Polanski v Conde Nast Publications Ltd (HL)
[2005] UKHL 10; [2005] 1 WLR 637; [2005] 1 All ER 945; [2005] EMLR 287; The Times, 11 Feb 2005; The Independent, 16 Feb 2005 10/02/2005
Jameel & Another v Wall Street Journal Europe (No.2) (CA)
[2005] EWCA Civ 74; [2005] QB 904; [2005] 2 WLR 1577; [2005] EMLR 377; [2005] 4 All ER 356; The Times 14 Feb 2005; The Independent 9 Feb 2005 03/02/2005
Jameel (Yousef) v Dow Jones & Co. Inc.
[2005] EWCA Civ 75; [2005] QB 946; [2005] 2 WLR 1614; [2005] EMLR 353; The Times 14 Feb 2005; The Independent 10 Feb 2005 03/02/2005
Injunctive Relief
OPQ v BJM & CJM
[2011] EWHC 1059 (QB) 20/04/2011
Mond & Ors v Mason & Ors
[2008] EWHC 1649 (QB) 24/06/2008
Malicious Falsehood
Thornton v Telegraph Media Group Ltd (No 3)
[2011] EWHC 159 04/02/2011
Tesco Stores Ltd v Guardian News & Media Ltd and Rusbridger
[2008] EWHC (QB); [2009] EMLR 5 29/07/2008
Mond & Ors v Mason & Ors
[2008] EWHC 1649 (QB) 24/06/2008
Media Law
OPQ v BJM & CJM
[2011] EWHC 1059 (QB) 20/04/2011
Ambrosiadou v Coward (CA)
[2011] EWCA Civ 409 12/04/2011
Baturina v Times Newspapers Ltd (CA)
[2011] EWCA Civ 308 23/03/2011
Thornton v Telegraph Media Group Ltd (No 3)
[2011] EWHC 159 04/02/2011
McLaughlin & Ors v London Borough of Lambeth & Khan
[2010] EWHC 2726 (QB) 02/11/2010
Thornton v Telegraph Media Group Ltd (No 2)
[2010] EWHC 1414 (QB); [2010] EMLR 25 16/06/2010
Thornton v Telegraph Media Group Ltd
[2009] EWHC 2863 (QB) 12/11/2009
Tesco Stores Ltd v Guardian News & Media Ltd and Rusbridger
[2008] EWHC (QB); [2009] EMLR 5 29/07/2008
Mond & Ors v Mason & Ors
[2008] EWHC 1649 (QB) 24/06/2008
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 (Costs)
2 December 2005 02/12/2005
Jameel & Another v Times Newspapers Ltd (No.2)
[2005] EWHC 1219 (QB) 15/06/2005
Milne v David Price Solicitors & Advocates
7 March 2005 07/03/2005
Collins Stewart Limited & Another v The Financial Times Ltd (No 2)
[2005] EWHC 262 (QB); [2006] EMLR 100 25/02/2005
Polanski v Conde Nast Publications Ltd (HL)
[2005] UKHL 10; [2005] 1 WLR 637; [2005] 1 All ER 945; [2005] EMLR 287; The Times, 11 Feb 2005; The Independent, 16 Feb 2005 10/02/2005
Jameel & Another v Wall Street Journal Europe (No.2) (CA)
[2005] EWCA Civ 74; [2005] QB 904; [2005] 2 WLR 1577; [2005] EMLR 377; [2005] 4 All ER 356; The Times 14 Feb 2005; The Independent 9 Feb 2005 03/02/2005
Jameel (Yousef) v Dow Jones & Co. Inc.
[2005] EWCA Civ 75; [2005] QB 946; [2005] 2 WLR 1614; [2005] EMLR 353; The Times 14 Feb 2005; The Independent 10 Feb 2005 03/02/2005
Hewitt & Others v Grunwald & Others
[2004] EWHC 2959 (QB) 21/12/2004
Collins Stewart Ltd & Another v The Financial Times Ltd
[2004] EWHC 2337 (QB); [2005] EMLR 64 20/10/2004
Jameel & Another v Wall Street Journal Europe
[2004] EWHC 37 (QB); [2004] EMLR 196 20/01/2004
Jameel & Another v Wall Street Journal Europe (CA)
[2003] EWCA Civ 1694; [2004] EMLR 6 26/11/2003
Jameel & Another v Times Newspapers Ltd
[2003] EWHC 2609 (QB) 07/11/2003
Bennett & Another v BBC & Another
[2003] EWHC 553 (QB) 20/03/2003
Wilkey & Another v BBC
[2002] EWCA Civ 1561; [2003] 1 WLR 1; [2002] 4 All ER 1177 22/10/2002
Burstein v Times Newspapers Ltd
[2000] EWCA Civ 338; [2001] 1 WLR 579; [2001] EMLR 364 20/12/2000
Berezovsky & Another v Forbes Inc & Another
[2000] UKHL 25; [2000] 1 WLR 1004; [2000] 2 All ER 986; [2000] EMLR 643 11/05/2000
Godfrey v Demon Internet Ltd
[1999] EWHC QB 240; [1999] 4 All ER 342 23/04/1999
Aitken v Preston and Others
[1997] EMLR 415 15/05/1997
Publishing
Bennett & Another v BBC & Another
[2003] EWHC 553 (QB) 20/03/2003
Articles
Reduced 'uplift's on libel CFAs - why the hurry?
By Justin Rushbrooke QC QC. 9 Jun 2010
News
31 Jan 2013
Naomi Campbell wins elephant cruelty libel claim
Daily Telegraph pays damages, costs and joins in Statement in Open Court
22 Feb 2012
Telegraph refused permission to appeal in Thornton case
Decision on malice against journalist stands
28 Oct 2011
5RB tops Chambers and Partners 2012
Adam Wolanski wins Defamation and Privacy Junior Barrister of the Year
20 Oct 2011
Sunday Times settles Baturina libel claim
Newspaper pays damages, costs and joins in Statement in Open Court
26 Jul 2011
Thornton wins historic libel and malicious falsehood trial
Judge finds book review was malicious; offer of amends defence defeated
25 Mar 2011
Court of Appeal upholds strict liability for innuendo meanings
Elena Baturina’s appeal succeeds, Sunday Times’ cross-appeal allowed in part
22 Jul 2010
Pitt & Jolie win 'false privacy' case
News of the World agrees to apologise and pay damages
16 Jul 2010
Amazon reviews case settles
Historian apologises and pays damages and costs over critical book reviews he posted under a pseudonym
15 Apr 2010
Durand School receives libel apology
Father of trainee teacher joins in High Court apology, pays damages and costs
24 Sep 2009
5RB's juniors: the Legal 500 verdict
What the legal directory had to say about 5RB's junior barristers
24 Nov 2008
Accountant wins ‘IVA Council’ claim
Insolvency practitioner obtains apology and damages over mis-selling allegations
16 Sep 2008
Tesco accepts Guardian apology
Newspaper makes front-page apology and payment to charity to settle libel claim
19 Mar 2008
Adelson accepts apology, damages
Associated Newspapers apologises to US entrepreneur and settles libel claim
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
11 Oct 2006
Wall St Journal wins Reynolds case
House of Lords allows appeal in important restatement of the public interest privilege defence
24 Oct 2005
Chambers' Review: 5RB top again
20 barristers recommended for Media, Entertainment, Defamation, Privacy, Intellectual Property & Sports Law
23 Sep 2005
'Chambers of the Year' goes to 5RB
5RB wins Chambers & Partners Defamation Set of the Year award
16 Sep 2005
5RB nominated for three top awards
Chambers & Partners Annual awards - 22nd September 2005
14 Mar 2005
Milne liable for CFA costs
Costs Judge orders solicitor Andrew Milne to pay David Price's costs under CFA
10 Feb 2005
Polanski Appeal Allowed
House of Lords permits video link evidence in Vanity Fair libel trial
3 Feb 2005
Wall Street Journal appeal dismissed
Rejection of Reynolds privilege upheld but Dow Jones wins Internet appeal
20 Oct 2004
Collins Stewart damages claim trimmed
High Court strikes out part of special damages claim against FT