5RB : Barristers : William Bennett

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William Bennett

Profile

William is a leading specialist in actions concerning defamation, breach of confidence and the misuse of private information.

Recent cases of note include: acting as Jan Cambridge's sole counsel in the trial of her libel claim and securing a damages award of £30,000 (having proven that the Defendant had acted with malice); acting as Gary Flood's junior at trial and on appeal in defeating a Reynolds defence mounted by The Times; acting as sole counsel for the Motown tribute band the Gillettes in the Court of Appeal and the Supreme Court in regard to a fair comment defence; and acting as Frank Warren’s junior in his successful claim against Random House which settled in his favour following a string of victories at first instance and in the Court of Appeal.

In defamation he has been involved in many leading cases, often in the Court of Appeal, on Reynolds privilege (Flood v Times), fair comment (Spiller v Joseph), withdrawing issues from juries (Alexander v Arts Council of Wales), interim injunctions (Holley v Smyth), offers of amends (Milne v Express Newspapers, Diana Rigg v Associated Newspapers, Jimmy Nail v News Group, Warren v Random House), qualified privilege (Wood v West Midlands Police) jurisdiction (Harrods v. Dow Jones, Lennon v Daily Record) and damages (Purnell v Business F1).

William particularly enjoys appearing before juries, building on the experience gained at the beginning of his career in criminal practice. Most notably, he secured a jury damages award of £75,000 for his client in Purnell v. Business F1 Magazine, which exceeded the trial judge's recommended ceiling of £60,000, which decision was then upheld by the Court of Appeal.

In 2010 he was asked to give a presentation to the European Parliament's Legal Affairs Committee on the current state of English defamation law. He also gave a presentation at the Institute for Advanced Legal Studies on jurisdiction in defamation claims. The Solicitors Journal has published his articles on defamation law reform: Think Again and The Jury's Out.

He is a CEDR accredited mediator and has a good knowledge of CFA costs issues.

Whilst William’s clients include the usual staple of tabloid newspapers and celebrities he is also known for representing the less wealthy, whether claimant or defendant. He recently acted for the Haringey social worker, Sylvia Henry, in securing favourable settlements against Haringey Council and a number of newspapers in regard to allegations concerning her involvement in the Baby P case. He also acted for Parameswaran Subramanyam, the Tamil hunger striker wrongly accused by The Sun and the Daily Mail of eating Big Macs during his hunger strike.

Career

Called

1994 Called to the Bar

Education

Bancroft's School
The University of Liverpool, BA History (incl.sabbatical year as President of the Students' Union)
Common Professional Examination (College of Law)
Bar Vocational Course (Inns of Court School of Law)

Areas of work

Defamation
Privacy and Confidence
Data Protection
Reporting the Courts
Mediation
Contempt
Injunctive Relief
Malicious Falsehood
Professional Negligence

Verbatim

Demonstrates real strength in all he does. He is self-reliant, fearless and an amazing one-man band when he needs to be.

A strongly analytical barrister who is very good with clients. He is known for his efficient, results-oriented approach.

A confident advocate.

Capable of running things without hand-holding.

Chambers & Partners 2008 - 2010

William’s approach to the claim was 1st class throughout. He was cheerful, unpretentious, readily available when called upon and able to respond to the actions of an unpredictable opposition. At trial his strategy and straight-forward manner ensured that the client’s case was perfectly presented. I am continuing to instruct William and hope that we can remain a successful team.

Dominic Crossley – Partner, Collyer Bristow

Testimonials

Consistently recommended as a leading defamation junior in both Chambers and Partners and the Legal 500.

Publications

The Law of Privacy and the Media, 1st edition

(17 Oct 2002)

Cases

Defamation

Dell'Olio v Associated Newspapers Ltd

[2011] EWHC 3272 (QB) 20/12/2011

Lewis v Commissioner of Police for the Metropolis & Ors

[2011] EWHC 781 (QB) 31/03/2011

Jan Cambridge v Guillermo Makin

[2011] EWHC 12(QB) 12/01/2011

Spiller & Anor v Joseph & Ors

[2010] UKSC 53 01/12/2010

Flood v Times Newspapers Ltd (CA)

[2010] EWCA Civ 804; [2010] EMLR 26; [2010] HRLR 30; Times, July 27, 2010 13/07/2010

Joseph & others v Spiller & another

[2009] EWCA Civ 1075 22/10/2009

RFS Capital LLC & RFS Capital BV v MD7 Europe & Michael Gianni

6 October 2009 06/10/2009

Flood v Times Newspapers Ltd

[2009] EWHC 2375 (QB); [2010] EMLR 8 02/10/2009

Flood v Times Newspapers Ltd (Third Party Disclosure)

[2009] EWHC 411 (QB); [2009] EMLR 18 05/03/2009

H v Tomlinson

[2008] EWCA Civ 1258 12/11/2008

Warren v The Random House Group Ltd (Nos.1-3) (CA)

[2008] EWCA Civ 834; [2009] QB 600; [2009] EMLR 1 16/07/2008

Warren v The Random House Group Ltd (No.3)

[2007] EWHC 3062 (QB) 20/12/2007

Warren v The Random House Group Ltd (No.2)

[2007] EWHC 2860 (QB) 05/12/2007

Warren v The Random House Group Ltd

[2007] EWHC 2856 (QB); [2008] 2 WLR 1033 05/12/2007

Jones v Associated Newspapers Limited

[2007] EWHC 1489 (QB); [2008] 1 AllER 240; [2008] EMLR 6 25/06/2007

Purnell v F1 Business Magazine Ltd & Another

[2007] EWCA Civ 744; [2008] 1 WLR 1 18/04/2007

Tierney v News Group Newspapers Ltd (No.2) (Costs)

[2006] EWHC 3275 (QB) 20/12/2006

Radu v Houston & Another (CA)

[2006] EWCA Civ 1575; The Times, 1 January 2007 22/11/2006

Loughton Contracts Plc v Dun & Bradstreet Ltd

[2006] EWHC 1224 (QB) 25/05/2006

Purnell v Business F1 Magazine Ltd & Another

14 March 2006 14/03/2006

Radu v Houston & Another

[2006] EWHC 231 (QB) 07/03/2006

Tierney v News Group Newspapers Ltd

[2006] EWHC 50 (QB) 26/01/2006

Nail v News Group Newspapers Ltd & Others (CA)

[2004] EWCA Civ 1708; [2005] 1 All ER 1040; [2005] EMLR 257; The Times 6 Jan 2005; The Independent 14 Jan 2005 20/12/2004

Wood v Chief Constable of West Midlands Police (CA)

[2004] EWCA Civ 1638; [2005] EMLR 449; The Times, 13 December 2004 08/12/2004

Milne v Express Newspapers (CA)

[2004] EWCA Civ 664; [2005] 1 WLR 772; [2005] 1 All ER 1021; [2004] EMLR 461 27/05/2004

Nail v News Group Newspapers Ltd & Others (QBD)

[2004] EWHC 647 (QB); [2004] EMLR 362 26/03/2004

Lennon v Scottish Daily Record & Sunday Mail

[2004] EWHC 359 (QB); [2004] EMLR 332 02/03/2004

Wood v Chief Constable of West Midlands Police

[2003] EWHC 2971 (QB), [2004] EMLR 310 08/12/2003

Milne v Express Newspapers (No.2)

[2003] EWHC 1843 (QB) 10/07/2003

Harrods Ltd v Dow Jones & Co Inc

[2003] EWHC 1162 (QB) 22/05/2003

Bennett & Another v BBC & Another

[2003] EWHC 553 (QB) 20/03/2003

Rigg v Associated Newspapers Ltd

[2003] EWHC 710 (QB); [2004] EMLR 52 07/03/2003

Milne v Express Newspapers (QBD)

[2002] EWHC 2564 (QB); [2003] 1 WLR 927; [2003] 1 All ER 482; [2003] EMLR 440 29/11/2002

Fayed v Telegraph Group Ltd

[2002] EWHC 1631 (QB) 24/07/2002

Alexander v Arts Council of Wales

[2001] EWCA Civ 514; [2001] 1 WLR 1840; [2001] EMLR 713; [2001] 4 All ER 205 09/04/2001

Milne v Telegraph Group Ltd

[2001] EMLR 760 02/02/2001

Holley v Smyth

[1998] QB 726; [1998] 2 WLR 742; [1998] 1 All ER 853 04/12/1997

Broxton v McClelland (No.2)

[1996] EWCA Civ 955; [1997] EMLR 157 14/11/1996

Broxton v McClelland

[1995] EMLR 485 30/01/1995

Privacy and Confidence

KGM v News Group Newspapers Ltd & Ors

[2010] EWHC 3145 (QB) 01/12/2010

H v Tomlinson

[2008] EWCA Civ 1258 12/11/2008

John v Associated Newspapers Ltd

[2006] EWHC 1611 (QB); [2006] EMLR 772 23/06/2006

Sports Law

Lennon v Scottish Daily Record & Sunday Mail

[2004] EWHC 359 (QB); [2004] EMLR 332 02/03/2004

Data Protection

Quinton v Peirce & Cooper

[2009] EWHC 912 (QB) 30/04/2009

Reporting the Courts

R v Burrell

20 December 2004 20/12/2004

Contempt

R v Burrell

20 December 2004 20/12/2004

Foreign Jurisdictions

Lennon v Scottish Daily Record & Sunday Mail

[2004] EWHC 359 (QB); [2004] EMLR 332 02/03/2004

Harrods Ltd v Dow Jones & Co Inc

[2003] EWHC 1162 (QB) 22/05/2003

Human Rights

Dell'Olio v Associated Newspapers Ltd

[2011] EWHC 3272 (QB) 20/12/2011

H v Tomlinson

[2008] EWCA Civ 1258 12/11/2008

Warren v The Random House Group Ltd (Nos.1-3) (CA)

[2008] EWCA Civ 834; [2009] QB 600; [2009] EMLR 1 16/07/2008

Warren v The Random House Group Ltd (No.2)

[2007] EWHC 2860 (QB) 05/12/2007

Warren v The Random House Group Ltd

[2007] EWHC 2856 (QB); [2008] 2 WLR 1033 05/12/2007

R v Burrell

20 December 2004 20/12/2004

Holley v Smyth

[1998] QB 726; [1998] 2 WLR 742; [1998] 1 All ER 853 04/12/1997

Injunctive Relief

KGM v News Group Newspapers Ltd & Ors

[2010] EWHC 3145 (QB) 01/12/2010

John v Associated Newspapers Ltd

[2006] EWHC 1611 (QB); [2006] EMLR 772 23/06/2006

Holley v Smyth

[1998] QB 726; [1998] 2 WLR 742; [1998] 1 All ER 853 04/12/1997

Malicious Falsehood

Quinton v Peirce & Cooper

[2009] EWHC 912 (QB) 30/04/2009

Media Law

Dell'Olio v Associated Newspapers Ltd

[2011] EWHC 3272 (QB) 20/12/2011

Lewis v Commissioner of Police for the Metropolis & Ors

[2011] EWHC 781 (QB) 31/03/2011

Spiller & Anor v Joseph & Ors

[2010] UKSC 53 01/12/2010

Flood v Times Newspapers Ltd (CA)

[2010] EWCA Civ 804; [2010] EMLR 26; [2010] HRLR 30; Times, July 27, 2010 13/07/2010

Joseph & others v Spiller & another

[2009] EWCA Civ 1075 22/10/2009

Flood v Times Newspapers Ltd

[2009] EWHC 2375 (QB); [2010] EMLR 8 02/10/2009

Flood v Times Newspapers Ltd (Third Party Disclosure)

[2009] EWHC 411 (QB); [2009] EMLR 18 05/03/2009

H v Tomlinson

[2008] EWCA Civ 1258 12/11/2008

Warren v The Random House Group Ltd (Nos.1-3) (CA)

[2008] EWCA Civ 834; [2009] QB 600; [2009] EMLR 1 16/07/2008

Warren v The Random House Group Ltd (No.3)

[2007] EWHC 3062 (QB) 20/12/2007

Warren v The Random House Group Ltd (No.2)

[2007] EWHC 2860 (QB) 05/12/2007

Warren v The Random House Group Ltd

[2007] EWHC 2856 (QB); [2008] 2 WLR 1033 05/12/2007

Jones v Associated Newspapers Limited

[2007] EWHC 1489 (QB); [2008] 1 AllER 240; [2008] EMLR 6 25/06/2007

Purnell v F1 Business Magazine Ltd & Another

[2007] EWCA Civ 744; [2008] 1 WLR 1 18/04/2007

Tierney v News Group Newspapers Ltd (No.2) (Costs)

[2006] EWHC 3275 (QB) 20/12/2006

Radu v Houston & Another (CA)

[2006] EWCA Civ 1575; The Times, 1 January 2007 22/11/2006

John v Associated Newspapers Ltd

[2006] EWHC 1611 (QB); [2006] EMLR 772 23/06/2006

Loughton Contracts Plc v Dun & Bradstreet Ltd

[2006] EWHC 1224 (QB) 25/05/2006

Purnell v Business F1 Magazine Ltd & Another

14 March 2006 14/03/2006

Tierney v News Group Newspapers Ltd

[2006] EWHC 50 (QB) 26/01/2006

Nail v News Group Newspapers Ltd & Others (CA)

[2004] EWCA Civ 1708; [2005] 1 All ER 1040; [2005] EMLR 257; The Times 6 Jan 2005; The Independent 14 Jan 2005 20/12/2004

R v Burrell

20 December 2004 20/12/2004

Milne v Express Newspapers (CA)

[2004] EWCA Civ 664; [2005] 1 WLR 772; [2005] 1 All ER 1021; [2004] EMLR 461 27/05/2004

Nail v News Group Newspapers Ltd & Others (QBD)

[2004] EWHC 647 (QB); [2004] EMLR 362 26/03/2004

Lennon v Scottish Daily Record & Sunday Mail

[2004] EWHC 359 (QB); [2004] EMLR 332 02/03/2004

Milne v Express Newspapers (No.2)

[2003] EWHC 1843 (QB) 10/07/2003

Harrods Ltd v Dow Jones & Co Inc

[2003] EWHC 1162 (QB) 22/05/2003

Bennett & Another v BBC & Another

[2003] EWHC 553 (QB) 20/03/2003

Rigg v Associated Newspapers Ltd

[2003] EWHC 710 (QB); [2004] EMLR 52 07/03/2003

Milne v Express Newspapers (QBD)

[2002] EWHC 2564 (QB); [2003] 1 WLR 927; [2003] 1 All ER 482; [2003] EMLR 440 29/11/2002

Fayed v Telegraph Group Ltd

[2002] EWHC 1631 (QB) 24/07/2002

Milne v Telegraph Group Ltd

[2001] EMLR 760 02/02/2001

Professional Negligence

Brinn & Jarvis v Russell Jones & Walker (a firm)

[2002] EWHC 2727 (QB); [2003] PNLR 16 12/12/2002

Publishing

Warren v The Random House Group Ltd (Nos.1-3) (CA)

[2008] EWCA Civ 834; [2009] QB 600; [2009] EMLR 1 16/07/2008

Warren v The Random House Group Ltd (No.3)

[2007] EWHC 3062 (QB) 20/12/2007

Warren v The Random House Group Ltd (No.2)

[2007] EWHC 2860 (QB) 05/12/2007

Warren v The Random House Group Ltd

[2007] EWHC 2856 (QB); [2008] 2 WLR 1033 05/12/2007

Milne v Express Newspapers (No.2)

[2003] EWHC 1843 (QB) 10/07/2003

Harrods Ltd v Dow Jones & Co Inc

[2003] EWHC 1162 (QB) 22/05/2003

Bennett & Another v BBC & Another

[2003] EWHC 553 (QB) 20/03/2003

Rigg v Associated Newspapers Ltd

[2003] EWHC 710 (QB); [2004] EMLR 52 07/03/2003

Milne v Express Newspapers (QBD)

[2002] EWHC 2564 (QB); [2003] 1 WLR 927; [2003] 1 All ER 482; [2003] EMLR 440 29/11/2002

Fayed v Telegraph Group Ltd

[2002] EWHC 1631 (QB) 24/07/2002

Milne v Telegraph Group Ltd

[2001] EMLR 760 02/02/2001

Articles

The Jury's Out

By William Bennett. 25 May 2010

Think Again

By William Bennett. 18 May 2010

Presentation to EU Parliament Legal Affairs Committee

By William Bennett. 9 Mar 2010

Libel: extending the limitation period

By William Bennett. 28 Jan 2002

News

20 Dec 2011