William Bennett KC
Call: 1994 Silk: 2019
Call: 1994 Silk: 2019
William Bennett KC specialises in actions concerning defamation, privacy, breach of confidence, harassment and data protection. He is ranked as a leading silk in defamation and privacy by both Chambers & Partners and the Legal 500 and was named as a Barrister of the Week by The Lawyer for his work for the Duke of Sussex in his successful claim for libel against the Mail on Sunday and the MailOnline.
He frequently appears at interim hearings, trials and appeal hearings for both claimants and defendants.
His recent work includes:
Many of the claims William acts in have resulted in successful settlements for his clients, including:
A major element of William’s privacy practice has comprised claims against Channel 5 for the misuse of private information arising from the filming for and the broadcast of the reality programme Can’t Pay? We’ll Take it Away! Following the claimants’ success at trial in Ali & Aslam v Channel 5 arising from such misuses (and the upholding of the judgment in their favour by the Court of Appeal), he has acted in over 35 claims in which settlements have been achieved for claimants whose private information has been misused by the programme.
Acted for television presenter Rachel Riley in a defamation claim arising from a tweet published by Laura Murray which accused Ms Riley of publicly stating that Jeremy Corbyn deserved to be violently attacked. At trial defences of truth, honest opinion and public interest failed and Ms Riley was awarded £10,000 in damages. The decision was upheld by the Court of Appeal.
Acted for Fiona George in her claim for malicious falsehood against her former employer. At trial the malice and falsehood components of the tort were proven but the claim failed because the claimant did not satisfy s.3 of the Defamation Act 1952 by which, absent special damage, it will suffice as an element of the tort if a claimant proves likelihood of pecuniary damage as a result of the publication of the words complained of. This finding turned on the trial judge’s interpretation of s.3. On Ms George’s appeal, the Court of Appeal overturned the trial judge’s finding on liability on the ground that his interpretation of s.3 had been wrong. The CA decision on liability was upheld by the Supreme Court.
Acted for D2 in the trial of the libel claim brought by Mr Hegab.
Acting for Mr Ware in his libel claim arising from allegations made by Roger Waters of Pink Floyd on Al Jazeera.
Acted for the journalist John Ware concerning defamatory allegations about his involvement in producing an edition of the BBC programme Panorama called Is Labour Anti-Semitic? Mr Ware was accused of being a rogue journalist who had engaged in dirty tricks against the Labour Party and of presenting a knowingly false account of the extent and nature of antisemitism within the Party. Following trial, Mr Ware was awarded £90,000 in damages.
Acted for Martin Lewis, the Money Saving Expert, in ground-breaking claim against Facebook for the publication of adverts showing fake endorsements supposedly given by Mr Lewis, usually for bitcoin investment schemes. A record-breaking settlement was achieved by which Facebook agreed to donate £3m to Citizens Advice to set up a new UK Anti Scams Action Project.
Ground-breaking claim for misuse of private information arising out of the broadcast of an episode of Can’t Pay? We’ll Take it Away! which showed the Claimants being evicted from their home. Following a trial, the Claimants were awarded damages.
Acted at trial for the Claimant, a winner of the Euromillions lottery, in order to prevent the publication of private information contained in his former lover’s memoir. Injunction granted and damages awarded.
Ground-breaking claim for misuse of private information arising out of the broadcast of an episode of Can’t Pay? We’ll Take it Away! which showed the Claimants being evicted from their home. Following a trial, the Claimants were awarded damages.
Acted at trial for the Claimant, a winner of the Euromillions lottery, in order to prevent the publication of private information contained in his former lover’s memoir. Injunction granted and damages awarded.
For more information
For more information or to instruct William please get in touch with our clerking team, who can deal with your enquiry and provide any required information: