5RB : Barristers : Richard Munden

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Richard Munden

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Recommended as a leading junior in defamation and privacy by Chambers & Partners and Legal 500, Richard also specialises in malicious falsehood, harassment, data protection, contempt and reporting restrictions, copyright, and media and entertainment related contractual disputes.

Matters in which Richard has acted include:

a wide variety of defamation claims including:
- acting for Wayne Rooney and HarperCollins Publishers in the libel claim brought against them by Everton manager David Moyes;
- acting for Amazon EU Sarl, operators of the Amazon.co.uk website, in respect of a claim brought by an author over comments in a discussion forum;
- successfully obtaining damages and apologies from The Spectator and Melanie Phillips over an article libelling the President of the British Muslim Initiative, and from the same magazine for Islam Expo Ltd;
- Mond v Mason, a successful claim for libel, malicious falsehood and causing loss by unlawful means by a group of accountancy firms involving numerous interlocutory applications;
- successfully striking out a number of claims brought against the publishers of national and local newspapers, as well as individuals, on a variety of grounds;
- acting for then Liverpool FC footballer Harry Kewell in his libel claim against Gary Lineker and the Telegraph;
- acting for businessman Mark Emlick in his successful libel claim against Gulf News;
- acting for boxing promoter Frank Warren in his successful libel claim against boxer Herbie Hide;
- acting for defendants in a number of claims concerning postings on websites;
- acting for dressage trainer Andrew Gould in relation to claims about his relationship with Katie Price; and
- advising the charity Shelter in relation to a threatened claim over a report into rogue landlords.
privacy matters, including:
- acting for various celebrities in respect of the publication of private and confidential information;
- acting for Ian Edmondson, former News of the World Assistant Editor, in the phone hacking litigation and the Leveson Inquiry;
- acting for the Media Legal Defence Initiative, the International Press Institute, and The World Association of Newspapers and News Publishers in Von Hannover v Germany (No 2);
- acting for Associated Newspapers in the privacy and copyright claim brought by Lily Allen; and
- acting for a child rape victim indirectly identified in a local newspaper.
making and resisting applications for injunctions in harassment (as well as in libel and privacy);
advising and acting on various copyright matters relating to the music, television and publishing industries, including acting for Aston "Family Man" Barrett (Bob Marley & The Wailers) against Universal-Island Records; for a major football club; and for a well-known entertainer against a national broadcaster;
passing off and trade marks disputes;
contractual claims involving music management contracts, publishing disputes and a claim relating to a series of popular music documentary films;
successfully striking out numerous claims brought under the Data Protection Act; and
professional negligence matters relating to media and entertainment law.

Richard also regularly advises national newspapers, journals and book publishers prior to publication. He has practiced in media and entertainment law at 5RB his entire career, having completed pupillage under the supervision of David Sherborne, Matthew Nicklin, Stephen Bate and Andrew Monson.

Career

Called

2003 Called to the Bar

Education

Truro College
University of Warwick, LLB (1st Class Honours)
University of Oxford (St Peter's College), BCL

Areas of work

Defamation
Privacy and Confidence
Sports Law
Intellectual Property
Data Protection
Reporting the Courts
Pre-publication Advice
Public Access
Contempt
Copyright
Entertainment Law
General Common Law
Harassment
Malicious Falsehood
Media Law
Music Law
Passing off
Professional Negligence
Publishing

Verbatim

"Enthusiastic and hardworking"
- Chambers & Partners 2011

Leading juniors, Defamation and Privacy
- Legal 500, 2009, 2010, 2011

"a lawyer who exudes confidence and maturity" ... Solicitors report that he is "a pleasure to work with due to his enthusiasm and drive."
- Chambers & Partners 2010

Testimonials

"A bright and able new star, Richard has helped us on various matters of different disciplines which he has dealt with with ease as he is happy to lead and also 'muck in'."
- Julian Diaz-Rainey, Hill Dickinson LLP

"Excellent. Approachable and thorough in dealing with what was a very sensitive matter."
- Saadia Khan, Bindmans LLP

"An excellent grasp of the law and procedure and turns papers around quickly. Destined for great things."
- Leszek Werenowski, Werenowski Solicitors

Scholarships etc

Pegasus Scholar 2007 (3 months working in Sydney at Mallesons Stephen Jaques, the New South Wales Supreme Court and Fairfax Media)

Levitt Scholar, Lord Denning Scholar, and Hardwicke Scholar of Lincoln's Inn

Research Associate, Oxford Intellectual Property Research Centre, 2001 - 2002

Oxford Law Society Mooting Champion 2002

Publications

The Law of Privacy and the Media (2nd edition, 2011)
Borrie & Lowe: The Law of Contempt (4th edition, 2010)
Law Brief Update, Media & Entertainment Law editor (monthly)
The Law of Privacy and the Media (2nd Supplement to 1st edition, 2006)