John Stables
Call: 2014
Call: 2014
John Stables became a member of 5RB in October 2015, after pupillage in Chambers.
John came to the Bar after a career in media regulation, working for Advertising Standards Authority, ITV, Independent Television Commission and Ofcom.
John’s practice is varied, advising and acting for claimants and defendants in relation to the full range of media law disputes. The areas of media work that John acts in include defamation, including pre-publication advice; harassment by publication; misuse of private information; breach of confidence; data protection; and media regulation.
John has acted for clients seeking urgent injunctions.
The extensive experience of media regulation John acquired before retraining as a barrister is probably unique for a practitioner at the Bar. His practice draws on this expertise. Together with the core areas of media law work he advises on all aspects of media content, both in relation to the law and the media codes. He also advises and appears for clients in other code of practice-based contexts such as club, association and political party membership disputes.
John is a co-author of the chapter on privacy codes in the leading textbook The Law of Privacy and the Media.
John’s instructing clients span the full spectrum of private and public clients, including individuals, companies, unincorporated organisations, local authorities and government agencies.
His practice is principally in the High Court but he is equally at home in the County Court and before regulatory hearing panels. John has appeared in the Court of Appeal, both solo and led.
Won for defendant client at first instance at High Court trial proceedings. This case reached the Supreme Court (David Price KC for the defendant). The Supreme Court’s judgment established the proper interpretation and application of s.3 Defamation Act 1952.
Acted for successful claimant, Countdown’s Rachel Riley, in libel claim brought against a blogger. £50,000 damages and injunction awarded. Application for permission to appeal heard in Court of Appeal and dismissed.
Led by William Bennett KC in libel win at first instance and in Court of Appeal in case brought by Rachel Riley.
Successful dismissal of claim brought against client, author and historian Andrew Lownie.
Successful application for defendant client in determination of meaning in libel claim brought by Labour MP Naz Shah in Twitter case.
Successful dismissal of claim in libel brought against regional Mirror group tile.
Further successful dismissal of claim in libel brought against regional Mirror group tile.
Securing interim relief for clients in breach of confidence and harassment misuse of private information cases including for a local authority and a national law firm.
Securing injunction for national law firm against defendant in context of contentious probate case.
Acting for successful claimants in a High Court multi-party harassment action.
Pre-publication advice given to broadcasters, national newspapers, periodicals and major commercial book publishers.
Advice for many individuals, companies and broadcasters in respect of pre-publication advice, regulatory investigations, regulatory findings and sanction, and broadcast licensing.
For more information
For more information or to instruct John please get in touch with our clerking team, who can deal with your enquiry and provide any required information: