5RB ranked as Leading Set at The Legal 500 2026
5RB has been ranked in The Legal 500 2026 as a leading set in Defamation and Privacy and Tier 2 in Data Protection. Congratulations to all ranked members, and a special mention goes to our… Read More »
5RB welcomes Chris Zabilowicz as a new tenant
Congratulations and welcome to Chris Zabilowicz, who has joined 5RB as a new member of Chambers, having successfully completed his pupillage. During this period, Chris experienced the full range of Chambers’ specialist areas of practice, including… Read More »
Legal 500 Bar Awards 2025
5RB has won the award for Media and the Arts Set of the Year in the The Legal 500 Awards 2025. Chambers was also shortlisted in the following categories: Technology, Data and Crypto Set of… Read More »
MI5 admit unlawfully accessing former BBC journalist’s communications data
In proceedings before the Investigatory Powers Tribunal on 15 September 2025, it was confirmed that MI5 has admitted twice unlawfully accessing the communications data of former senior BBC Northern Ireland journalist, Vincent Kearney, in breach… Read More »
New article on defamation law in Gibraltar
In a small jurisdiction with a tightly knit community like Gibraltar, where news travels fast and reputations matter, defamation law plays a critical role. With a vibrant mix of individuals and organisations—many of them high-profile—the… Read More »
5RB shortlisted at the Chambers UK Bar Awards 2025
We are pleased to announce that 5RB has been shortlisted in the Chambers UK Bar Awards 2025 in the following categories. The awards ceremony will take place at Old Billingsgate on Thursday, 13 November. Media,… Read More »
Court of Appeal hands down judgment on open justice in PMC v Cwm Taf Morgannwg University Health Board
The Court of Appeal has handed down judgment in PMC v Cwm Taf Morgannwg University Health Board, determining several important jurisdictional questions concerning the principle of open justice. These include the Court’s determination that there… Read More »
Judgment in Noel Clarke v Guardian News and Media Ltd
The High Court has today given judgment in Noel Clarke v Guardian News and Media Ltd [2025] EWHC 2193 (KB), following the six-week trial that took place earlier this year. The claim was for libel… Read More »
Professor Tony Smith
Friends and former colleagues at 5RB of Professor Tony Smith, known in academic circles as A.T.H Smith, are greatly saddened to learn of the death of Tony peacefully at his home in New Zealand, on… Read More »
Mohammed Hegab v (1) The Spectator (2) Douglas Murray
Judgment has been handed down by Mr Justice Johnson in favour of the Defendants in Mohammed Hegab v (1) The Spectator (2) Douglas Murray. The claim arose from an article written by Douglas Murray and… Read More »
Chris Zabilowicz to join 5RB as a full time tenant in October 2025
5RB is delighted to announce that our current pupil, Chris Zabilowicz, will commence practice as a full tenant at the beginning of October 2025, at the conclusion of his pupillage. We all at 5RB would… Read More »
Blake v Fox appeal hearing
Laurence Fox’s appeal from Collins Rice J’s decisions at trial is being heard by the Court of Appeal today (28 July). At trial, the judge upheld the libel claims of Simon Blake and Colin Seymour… Read More »
Costs judgment in Wei & Ors v Long & Ors
The High Court has given judgment on costs in a claim for harassment, libel, malicious falsehood and various privacy related claims. This is Hill J’s third judgment on the claim and concerned the remaining issue… Read More »
Felicity McMahon elected Master of the Bench
5RB is delighted to announce that Felicity McMahon has been elected a Master of the Bench of The Honourable Society of the Middle Temple, the highest level of membership within the Inn. This honour is… Read More »
Defamation Trial in Hegab v The Spectator & Anor
On Monday, the High Court began a four day trial of a defamation claim in Hegab (“Hijab”) v The Spectator (1828) Ltd & Anor before Mr Justice Johnson. Mohammed Hijab, a prominent British YouTuber with… Read More »
Felicity McMahon participates as a judge in the National Mooting Competition 2025
Felicity McMahon participated as a judge for the second consecutive year in the National Mooting Competition organised by the University of Kent and the Hillary Rodham Clinton School of Law, Swansea University. The competition was… Read More »
TikTok Inc & TikTok Information Technologies UK Ltd v Information Commissioner
First-tier Tribunal (General Regulatory Chamber) [2025] UKFTT 00798 (GRC) 3 July 2025 The FTT has determined a preliminary issue in TikTok’s appeal against a Monetary Penalty Notice dated 4 April 2023, by which the Commissioner… Read More »
Second appeal on the court’s powers where no claim form is issued
CA-2024-002323 Gotti v Perrett, listed in the Court of Appeal 2/7/2025 This is an important appeal concerning civil procedure. The Court of Appeal is asked to decide whether the County Court had the power to… Read More »
Gibraltar Supreme Court hears applications in Flowers v White
A series of applications, including for strike-out, summary judgment and the lifting of a stay, were heard by Mr Justice Happold in the Supreme Court of Gibraltar on Monday and Tuesday of this week, in… Read More »
5RB shortlisted for the Legal 500 Bar Awards 2025
𝟱𝗥𝗕 has been shortlisted as a Set in the following categories of The Legal 500 Awards 2025. Media and the Arts Technology, Data and Crypto Also, a huge congratulations to our members and our Senior… Read More »