Judgment in rare slander trial
The defamation claim in Griffin v North Cumbria Integrated Care NHS Foundation Trust was made over a telephone call to follow up an employment reference provided by the Defendant about the Claimant. The claim was successfully defended… Read More »
A ‘SLAPP’ Struck Out: NI Court Finds Proceedings are Abuse of Process
In 1989, George W Pring described so-called SLAPPs (Strategic Lawsuits Against Public Participation) as a “new (and, we believe, growing) litigation phenomenon” in America. Since then, although there has been significant adoption of anti-SLAPP laws… Read More »
Judgment in Blake and others v Fox
Following a trial of preliminary issues and subsequent appeal, on 29 January 2024 Mrs Justice Collins Rice handed down judgment in the substantive libel trial of Blake and others v Fox ([2024] EWHC 146 (KB))…. Read More »
Pupillage: 5RB seeking to recruit for 2025
5RB is seeking to recruit up to two pupils to begin their 12-month training in October 2025. Applications must be made through the Pupillage Gateway system by midnight on 7 February 2024. Information about the… Read More »
Richard Rampton KC
We are incredibly sad to announce the death of Richard Rampton KC, our valued colleague, friend, and former Head of Chambers at 1 Brick Court. Joint Head of 5RB, Jane Phillips, said: “Richard was a… Read More »
Source protection in the High Court
The High Court has today handed down judgment refusing applications by Stokoe Partnership Solicitors and Karam al Sadeq for non-party disclosure orders against the Sunday Times, the Bureau of Investigative Journalism and its editor, Franz… Read More »
David Sherborne named The Times Lawyer of the Week
David Sherborne has been named “Lawyer of the Week” by The Times, following the handing down of judgment last Friday in the Mirror phone hacking litigation. The article references David’s successful appearance in that litigation… Read More »
Bermuda CA dismisses injunction appeal
On 13 December, judgment was handed down by the Bermudian Court of Appeal, dismissing the appeal against two decisions of the lower court to make and, subsequently, maintain an interim injunction requiring the appellant publisher… Read More »
Judgment in Mirror phone hacking trial
Judgment has been handed down today in several claims for phone hacking and related unlawful information gathering against MGN Ltd, the publisher of the Daily Mirror, Sunday Mirror and People newspapers. Four representative cases have… Read More »
Dyson v Channel 4 & ITN: trial of preliminary issues
Today the High Court will hear argument in a preliminary issue trial in a libel claim brought by Dyson, over a programme broadcast in February 2022 by Channel Four News. The programme concerns allegations of… Read More »
Holiday opening hours
Over the holiday period Chambers will close at 2pm on Friday 22nd December 2023 and will re-open on Tuesday 2nd January 2024. We will monitor our email, clerks@5RB.com, throughout the holiday period; however, for any urgent matters,… Read More »
5RB hosts Media Law Insight Evening for BVL students
On 6 December, 5RB invited students on this year’s programme to a virtual insight evening. The session included introductory talks from Jane Phillips (Joint Head of Chambers), Luke Browne and Gemma McNeil-Walsh on defamation, harassment and privacy law; a view… Read More »
Greg Callus named Media, Privacy & Information Law ‘Junior of the Year’
5RB warmly congratulates Greg Callus on being named Media, Privacy and Information Law ‘Junior of the Year’ at the Chambers UK Bar Awards 2023. Greg’s 2023 was busy and varied. It began with him defending a… Read More »
Duke of Sussex v Associated Newspapers Ltd: strike out / summary judgment handed down
Mr Justice Nicklin has today given judgment dismissing the Duke of Sussex’s application to strike out (or for summary judgment on) the defence of honest opinion relied upon Associated Newspapers Limited. The application was heard… Read More »
Statements in Open Court in Mobile Telephone Interception Litigation
A number of statements in open court were read out in the High Court today in relation to claims in Various Claimants v News Group Newspapers. The defendant company is the publisher of The News… Read More »
Judgment in Sir James Dyson v MGN Limited
Mr Justice Jay has today given judgment dismissing the libel claim brought by Sir James Dyson against MGN Limited, publisher of the Daily Mirror. The judgment follows the trial in November 2023. The Defendant succeeded… Read More »
Mincione v Gedi – strike-out application dismissed
The libel claim brought against the Italian publisher of daily newspaper La Repubblica and weekly magazine L’Espresso will proceed to trial, after it successfully resisted an application to strike out its defence of truth. The… Read More »
Coombs v ICO and The Buckinghamshire Grammar Schools FTT trial begins
A 3-day trial in Coombs v ICO and The Buckinghamshire Grammar Schools begins today in the First Tier Tribunal. This is a rehearing of the Appellant’s appeal in relation to his Freedom of Information request… Read More »
Laurence Fox twitter trial commences in High Court
The 8-day trial in Blake & Ors v Fox begins today in the High Court before Collins Rice J. Simon Blake, Colin Seymour (known as Crystal) and Nicola Thorp brought defamation proceedings against Laurence Fox over three… Read More »
Statement in open court in Hague v TML
The Times has settled a libel action brought by Jerry Hague, agreeing to a joint statement in open court which was read today before Mr Justice Johnson. Mr Hague is a solicitor and was previously… Read More »