Year: 2008

‘Magic Alex’ libel claims reinstated

The former director of the Beatles’ Apple Electronics, Alex Mardas, has had his libel claims against the New York Times and the International Herald Tribune reinstated.   Mr Mardas, dubbed ‘Magic Alex’ by John Lennon, is… Read More »

Media to gain greater access to family courts

The Justice Secretary Jack Straw has announced reforms of the family justice system which will allow greater scrutiny of its workings by the media. From April 2009, Mr Straw said, the media will be permitted greater… Read More »

New consultation on defamation law

During a debate about the United Kingdom’s defamation laws in Parliament, Bridget Prentice, the Parliamentary Under Secretary of State of the Ministry of Justice announced that the Government was set to launch a consultation to… Read More »

Apology over ‘misery memoir’

A father accused by his daughter in her book “Mummy’s Witness” of having sexually, emotionally and physically abused her from the age of four today set the record straight in a statement in open court in… Read More »

New High Court Judges appointed

1 Brick Court’s Victoria Sharp QC and Andrew Nicol QC of Doughty Street Chambers have been appointed to the High Court bench. After graduating from Bristol University, Victoria Sharp joined 1 Brick Court in 1982 and took silk in 2001. She… Read More »

DNA retention infringes Article 8

In a landmark ruling, the Grand Chamber in Strasbourg has found that the current UK policy of retaining DNA samples from individuals who are subequently acquitted is an infringement of Article 8 ECHR. It is believed… Read More »

Mother loses ‘Ugly’ libel trial

The barrister  and part-time judge Constance Briscoe, has successfully defended a libel claim brought by her mother in respect of her misery memoir “Ugly”. In the book Ms Briscoe accused her mother, the claimant Carmen… Read More »

Fallon and BHA settle their differences

The British Horseracing Authority has announced that Keiren Fallon and two other jockeys will not face charges over betting by members of the Bennett family on horses ridden by them in 2003-4. Action to ban… Read More »

Accountant wins ‘IVA Council’ claim

David Mond, a chartered accountant and insolvency practitioner, his firm Hodgsons Chartered Accountants and his company ClearDebt Ltd have received an apology and a substantial sum by way of damages and costs under the terms… Read More »

New edition of Gatley out soon

The 11th edition of Gatley on Libel and Slander will be published by Sweet & Maxwell in December.   The new edition is edited by 5RB‘s Patrick Milmo QC and Professor Horton Rogers with contributions from 5RB‘s… Read More »

Parliament to review media law

The Commons culture, media and sport select committee is to carry out a wide ranging inquiry into the effectiveness of privacy and libel laws. The inquiry, which will also examine the impact of Conditional Fee Agreements and contempt of… Read More »

Tory Peer to head PCC

Baroness Buscombe, a shadow frontbench spokesman for the Conservative Party in the House of Lords, has been appointed Chair of the Press Complaint Commission to succeed Sir Christopher Meyer from March 2009. Peta Buscombe was… Read More »

5RB tops Legal 500

The annual Legal 500 review of the legal profession has named 5RB as a leading set in Defamation and Privacy and  Sport, Media & Entertainment Law. The independent survey praised the set for its ‘outstanding leaders, the quality of junior… Read More »

Chambers: 5RB is the ‘gold standard’

5RB has been named as a leading set for Defamation & Privacy and Media & Entertainment Law in the annual Chambers & Partners review of the legal profession.   The directory ranked 5RB as joint top in… Read More »

QCs defend judge in privacy row

The heads of the two leading media law chambers today rejected claims that Mr Justice Eady is on a “one-man mission” to introduce a privacy law by the backdoor.   In a joint letter to… Read More »

Mail chief slams privacy rulings

Paul Dacre, the editor-in-chief of the Daily Mail has used his speech to the Society of Editors to attack the BBC, judge-made privacy law and conditional fee agreements. Mr Dacre, speaking in Bristol, voiced his… Read More »

Speedy trial for Sienna Miller

Sienna Miller, the well-known British actress, has been granted a speedy trial of her action against paparazzi agency, Big Pictures (UK) Ltd, and its owner and alter ego, Darryn Lyons.   Ms Miller claims injunctive… Read More »