Category: News

From today, for the first time, courts will be able to make media organisations pay potentially massive costs’ bills if a criminal trial is aborted due to prejudicial reporting.  Under s.93 Courts Act 2003 and the Costs in Criminal Cases (General) (Amendment)… Read More »

In its latest report, Ofcom, the broadcasting regulator, has criticised Channel Four for its handling of the outbreak of violence in the Big Brother house in June, although it rejected other criticisms of the broadcaster… Read More »

The House of Lords has today handed down its judgment in the important case of Cream Holdings v Banerjee & Others. The full judgment is available now at the 5RB website, together with a full… Read More »

The autumn term is usually very busy, and 2004 is no exception. Here’s what lies ahead.   18 October 2004 – Al Rajhi and Jameel v Wall Street Journal (CA)   19 October 2004 – Anna Richardson v… Read More »

5RB welcomes Richard Munden and David Hirst as new members of Chambers today. Both were pupils at 5RB and their recruitment brings the media law set’s complement to 27 barristers. Richard Munden was educated at the comprehensive school in Wadebridge, Cornwall, before achieving… Read More »

Celtic Manager, Martin O’Neill, has received an apology and substantial damages from the BBC over allegations made in a book published by BBC Worldwide Limited, “Football Confidential 2”. The book had examined Mr O’Neill’s shareholding in the Proactive… Read More »

5RB’s mediation group has been strengthened by Stephen Bate‘s appointment to the panel of mediators regularly used by CEDR.   The mediation group at 5RB offers a fast, efficient and inexpensive service for the resolution of… Read More »

Graham Bradley’s claim that his five year penalty of disqualification was disproportionate and unlawful has been dismissed by the High Court today.   Mr Justice Richards held that the penalty imposed by Jockey Club Appeal… Read More »

The Press Complaints Commission has rejected a privacy complaint from Eastenders’ actor, Leslie Grantham, over tabloid allegations that the BBC had ordered him to seek treatment for sexual problems. The actor, who plays “Dirty Den” in… Read More »

The deadline for an appeal against the decision of the European Court of Human Rights decision in the privacy case brought by Princess Caroline of Monaco expired last Friday. Some media lawyers had petitioned the German… Read More »

The annual Legal 500 review of the legal profession has named 5RB as a leading set both in Defamation and Media & Entertainment Law.   The independent survey praised the set for its “extensive expertise” and said 5RB continued… Read More »

An appeal arising from the longest-ever libel trial in British history begins today. Helen Steel and David Morris were sued for libel by the fast-food chain McDonald’s over a leaflet they distributed in 1996. After a 63-week trial, McDonald’s were… Read More »

We believe the new 5RB website has the largest collection of case reports and comments on media and entertainment law on the web. Early client feedback: “A truly great resource”, “Really helpful” If you haven’t… Read More »

The Lawyer article UK press in-housers fight privacy ruling by Steve Hoare reports that Associated Newspapers’ head of legal, Harvey Kass, has contacted his peers in the national press asking them to support efforts to convince… Read More »

5RB hosted a launch party yesterday for the new practitioner text by Christina Michalos, The Law of Photography & Digital Images.    Speaking at the 5RB launch party, Mr Justice Tugendhat said the book was an exceptional… Read More »

The valediction for Mr Justice Morland was held today before a packed Lord Chief Justice’s Court in the Royal Court of Justice in London.   Joined on the bench with the Lord Chief Justice, Lord Woolf, Lord… Read More »

5RB underlines its premier status as a leading set of Chambers with the official launch of 5RB.com – its new website – at the 5RB Summer Party Wednesday 14th July.   Speaking before the official launch, website co-ordinator… Read More »

The Law Commission’s Final Report on the publication of Local Authority Inquiry Reports was published today together with a draft Bill.   It makes major recommendations designed to enable local authorities to publish fair inquiry reports without… Read More »

The TV Regulator Ofcom has upheld a complaint about a programme in the BBC series Trouble at the Top broadcast on BBC2 in March this year. A viewer had complained about former Michelin-starred chef, Tom… Read More »

Richard Parkes QC and Sapna Jethani gave a seminar on recent developments in the law of contempt of court at the offices of Charles Russell on 5th July. Their talk ranged widely over issues such… Read More »