5RB is delighted to congratulate Aidan Eardley KC on his appointment to the High Court Bench from 1 October 2026, where he will be assigned to the King’s Bench Division. Aidan was appointed a Deputy High Court Judge in 2024, mainly sitting in the Media & Communications List, having been a Crown Court Recorder since 2020.
Aidan joined 5RB from 1 Brick Court in 2019 and took Silk in 2022. He had an exceptionally busy and wide-ranging practice in all aspects of media and information law with particular expertise in data protection and contempt of court. As a junior barrister, Aidan was appointed as a Deputy First-Tier Tribunal Judge in 2013 and served as a member of the Attorney General’s ‘A’ Panel of counsel from 2016 to 2021. He was a member of the Bar Standards Board Advisory Pool of Experts, advising the BSB on data protection matters as well as being the co-author, with others from 5RB, of the leading textbook, Duncan and Neill on Defamation.
Aidan will join other former members of 5RB on the Bench, Lord Justice Warby, who is to be sworn in as the new President of the King’s Bench Division on 5 October 2026 and Mr Justice Nicklin, who was appointed to the King’s Bench Division in 2017.
Joint Head of Chambers at 5RB, Jane Phillips, who was Aidan’s pupil supervisor following his Call to the Bar in 2002, commented: “Adrienne and I and the whole of 5RB will miss Aidan greatly. It is an understatement to say that Aidan’s hugely deserved appointment to the Bench will be a massive loss to 5RB, not only as a friend and colleague but as a wonderful contributor to Chambers life. We extend our warmest congratulations to Aidan on his new role and look forward to appearing in front of Mr Justice Eardley.”
