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 »
News from the Clerks’ Room
Following Jamie Clack’s recent departure, we are pleased to announce that Antony Braeger has been promoted to the role of Deputy Senior Clerk. Additionally, Georgina Gills and Sam Dempsey have both joined the team as… Read More »
Academic awarded £70,000 in damages over blog
Mr Justice Saini awarded substantial libel and harassment damages following the judgment handed down this morning in Blackledge v Person(s) Unknown. The claimant, a senior academic, was the victim of a campaign of online abuse in the form… Read More »
Claimant’s appeal dismissed in Greenstein v Campaign Against Antisemitism
In a judgment handed down on Friday 9 July 2021, the Court of Appeal has dismissed an appeal concerned with the pleading of malice in relation to spent convictions. It is the first time that… Read More »
Rebekah Vardy’s summary judgment application fails
Rebekah Vardy’s application for summary judgment was dismissed by Mrs Justice Steyn DBE in a judgment handed down this morning in the ongoing Vardy v Rooney libel litigation. The high-profile libel claim brought by Ms… Read More »
Claimant succeeds on slander preliminary issues
Judgment has been given on preliminary issues in a slander claim between former business partners, by HHJ Richard Parkes QC, sitting as a High Court Judge in the Winchester District Registry of the High Court…. Read More »
Judgment in Lachaux
Over seven years on since the first publication of the offending articles in The Independent, i and the Evening Standard, Bruno Lachaux has won his long-running claim for libel against the newspapers’ publishers. He has… Read More »
Hearing in Rebekah Vardy v Coleen Rooney
An application to strike out part of the Defence in Rebekah Vardy v Coleen Rooney is being heard in the High Court today before Mrs Justice Steyn DBE. The high profile libel claim is over… Read More »
MPS press release libel claim dismissed following trial
In a judgment handed down on 6 May 2021, Julian Knowles J dismissed a claim for defamation brought by William Spicer against the Commissioner of Police of the Metropolis. The background to the claim was… Read More »
Defendant’s appeal dismissed in Millett v Corbyn
The Court of Appeal (Vos MR, Sharp P and Warby LJ) has this morning handed down judgment in an appeal brought by the Rt Hon Jeremy Corbyn MP against Saini J’s first instance decision in… Read More »
Can’t Pay? We’ll Take it Away! Statement in Open Court
Channel 5 has joined in a statement in open court, apologised and agreed to pay substantial damages to a couple who were shown in the television programme Can’t Pay? We’ll Take it Away! Keith Wain… Read More »
Johnny Depp loses appeal bid
The Court of Appeal (Lord Justice Underhill and Lord Justice Dingemans) has today refused permission to Johnny Depp to appeal against the dismissal of his claim for libel against News Group Newspapers and Dan Wootton,… Read More »
Jonathan Barnes formally appointed QC
15 March 2021 Jonathan Barnes – along with the other 2021 silks – has this morning (15 March 2021) received his letters patent by email from the Crown Office. He is now therefore officially designated… Read More »
Mail pays libel damages to psychologist
A clinical psychologist and therapist has won her libel claim against the Mail on Sunday and MailOnline. Dr Elly Hanson issued proceedings over false and defamatory allegations relating to her involvement in Operations Midland and… Read More »
Lachaux s.4 trial heard remotely
The trial of liability in the long-running libel case of Lachaux v Evening Standard Ltd & Independent Print Ltd started on 22 February 2021 and is due to conclude on 1 March. It was heard… Read More »
Emails about departure of former head of British Council in Italy not defamatory
Mr Justice Saini today dismissed claims by Paul Sellers, the former Country Director of the British Council in Italy, that two emails (of three complained of) sent by staff at the Foreign and Commonwealth Office… Read More »
The Duchess of Sussex wins her privacy and copyright claim
The Duchess of Sussex has won her privacy and copyright claim against The Mail on Sunday after Lord Justice Warby gave summary judgment in her favour on liability on her claim for misuse of private… Read More »
Barrister of the week: William Bennett QC
William Bennett has been named by The Lawyer as its “Barrister of the Week”. The magazine published an article about his work which featured his recent involvement in the Duke of Sussex’s libel claim against… Read More »
Duke of Sussex libel settlement
A statement in open court has been read on behalf of the Duke of Sussex, thereby concluding his claim for libel against Associated Newspapers Limited. On 25 October 2020 the Mail on Sunday published the… Read More »
Nicklin J appointed Judge in Charge of Media and Communications List
Former 5RB member Mr Justice Nicklin has been appointed Judge in Charge of the High Court’s Media and Communications List. He takes up the position on 3 February 2021 when Mr Justice Warby – also… Read More »
Adam Wolanski QC named as one of The Lawyer magazine’s Hot 100 for 2021
5RB’s Adam Wolanski QC has today been named in The Lawyer magazine’s Hot 100 list for 2021. The list recognises “the most daring, innovative and creative lawyers from in-house, private practice and the Bar.” The… Read More »