Contacting 5RB during the Covid-19 lockdown
Although 5RB‘s premises are closed during the lockdown, chambers continues in full operation remotely. Please assist us by sending documents and instructions electronically. If hard copies are required, please liaise with the clerking team to… Read More »
Chambers UK Bar Awards 2020
5RB has been shortlisted for Defamation Set of the Year for the 2020 Chambers UK Bar Awards. In addition, both Adrienne Page QC and William Bennett QC have been shortlisted for Defamation Silk of the… Read More »
5RB announces new tenant
We are pleased to announce that Luke Browne has been offered tenancy after successful completion of pupillage. From October, Luke will join 5RB as our 33rd member of chambers. His supervisors were Adam Speker QC,… Read More »
How to get a libel injunction
5RB’s Adam Speker QC has posted an article which you can read here: “How to get a libel injunction“.
Defamation, Privacy and Reputation Management
Jane Phillips is Chairing the Defamation, Privacy and Reputation Management 2020 conference on 9 September 2020. The conference examines the full range of current legal issues in media and information law. Jonathan Scherbel-Ball is hosting… Read More »
Melania Trump apology not defamatory of author
The High Court has handed down judgment today following a preliminary issue trial of meaning in Burleigh v Telegraph Media Group Limited [2020] EWHC 2359 (QB). The Claimant, a journalist at Newsweek, had brought a… Read More »
Jonathan Scherbel-Ball appointed to the B Panel
5RB are delighted to announce that Jonathan Scherbel-Ball has been promoted to the Attorney General’s B Panel of approved Counsel for government work, with effect from 1 September 2020. His appointment will last five years. The Attorney General… Read More »
Court rules in favour of Duchess
Court rules that the Duchess of Sussex can protect the confidentiality of her five friends’ names in her case against Associated Newspapers for misuse of private information and breach of copyright and data protection. Yesterday,… Read More »
Sir Mark Warby appointed Lord Justice of Appeal
Sir Mark was a member of 5RB for 32 years and joint Head of Chambers prior to appointment as High Court Judge in the Queen’s Bench Division in 2014. He has been Judge in Charge… Read More »
Lord Sheikh receives apology in open court from Associated Newspapers
Associated Newspapers Ltd has apologised to Lord Sheikh in a Statement in Open Court read before Mr Justice Warby on 30 July 2020. Lord Sheikh had brought libel proceedings in respect of a 15 August… Read More »
5RB talks – media and communications law lockdown update
Adam Speker QC moderated the discussion with Felicity McMahon and Ben Gallop as they explored some of the most important recent decisions: Serafin v Malkiewicz & Ors [2020] UKSC 23 Sube v (1) NGN (2) Express Newspapers [2020] EWHC… Read More »
Statements in Open Court for Labour Party whistleblowers and John Ware
Seven former Labour Party employees and Mr John Ware have reached agreement with the Labour Party prior to the issue of libel claims against the Labour Party. The prospective actions have concluded with the payment… Read More »
Court determines meaning of defamatory statements in libel case against Jeremy Corbyn
This morning Mr Justice Saini handed down judgment in a hearing sought by the Defendant, The Rt Hon Jeremy Corbyn MP, as to the meaning of statements he made on the BBC’s Andrew Marr programme… Read More »
Trial of Johnny Depp’s libel action against The Sun begins
The High Court trial of actor Johnny Depp’s libel claim against the publishers of The Sun, News Group Newspapers, and the newspaper’s Executive Editor, Dan Wootton, starts today. The trial is being held before Nicol… Read More »
5RB Annual Quiz 2020
5RB hosted its 13th annual charity quiz last night, virtually, to raise funds for Advocate and the Free Representation Unit (FRU). Teams from many leading solicitors firms and media organisations competed over five rounds of questions, with the quiz… Read More »
Apology given by blogger to local councillor in privacy claim
A councillor has received a public apology from a local politics blogger in settlement of her claim against him over disclosures of her medical information on his website. Maxine Fothergill, who is currently a councillor… Read More »
Tinkler v Ferguson: court strikes out malicious falsehood claim
The High Court has struck out a malicious falsehood action brought by a former executive director of Stobart Group Limited (“Stobart”) over the publication of an announcement by the company on the London Stock Exchange’s… Read More »
Supreme Court dismisses appeal in Serafin
The Supreme Court handed down judgment this morning (3 June 2020) in the Defendants’ appeal against the ruling of the Court of Appeal in Serafin v Malkiewicz and others. The Supreme Court upheld the ruling… Read More »
Damages and injunction awarded in Facebook privacy claim
A privacy claim over a Facebook post disclosing information relating to the claimant’s mental health problems, published as part of an acrimonious family dispute, has seen the claimant win damages and an injunction at trial…. Read More »
Important Court of Appeal judgment on suspects’ privacy rights: ZXC v Bloomberg
In a judgment handed down on 15 May 2020, the Court of Appeal has upheld the decision of Mr Justice Nicklin that an article about a fraud, bribery and corruption investigation into the Claimant at… Read More »