£50,000 damages and an injunction awarded in TikTok libel claim
The High Court has today awarded the Claimant, a former receptionist at Ponds Forge International Sports Centre in Sheffield, £50,000 in damages (including aggravated damages) for libel, a permanent injunction, and an order under s.12… Read More »
Sunday Times granted transparency order in care proceedings about fabricated or induced illness
The Sunday Times is permitted to name the Great Ormond Street Hospital for Children NHS Foundation Trust in its reporting on allegations of fabricated or induced illness (‘FII’), the condition formerly known as Munchausen syndrome… Read More »
BBC journalist granted access to documents in serious child sex abuse investigation
Following a substantially successful appeal by the BBC journalist Alex Homer, the First Tier Tribunal has directed Walsall Council to provide access to information contained within a Serious Case Review into child sexual abuse in… Read More »
High-profile trial begins in claims against Associated Newspapers
The high-profile trial brought by various claimants against Associated Newspapers Ltd has begun today. The claimants Baroness Doreen Lawrence, Elizabeth Hurley, Sir Elton John, David Furnish, Sir Simon Hughes, Prince Harry and Sadie Frost Law… Read More »
Permanent injunction and £25,000 damages granted in LinkedIn harassment claim
On 5 January 2026, the High Court handed down Judgment following a two-day trial of a claim brought in breach of contract and for harassment under the Protection from Harassment Act 1997. The Court granted… Read More »
Julian Santos formally appointed KC in Gibraltar
5RB is delighted to announce that Julian Santos KC formally took silk in Gibraltar on Friday, 9 January 2026. Julian was invited to the inner bar by the Chief Justice, The Hon. Mr Justice Dudley,… Read More »
Solicitors Disciplinary Tribunal strikes out SLAPPs test case against Carter-Ruck Partner
The Solicitors Disciplinary Tribunal (SDT) has granted an application for summary dismissal brought by Claire Gill, a Partner in the specialist London media law firm, Carter-Ruck, against proceedings brought against her by the Solicitors Regulation… Read More »
Stephen Suttle KC 1949-2025
Chambers is sad to report the death of a much-loved colleague and formidable barrister. Stephen joined 1 Brick Court in 1980 and took silk in 2003. His junior practice included substantial commercial cases as well… Read More »
Court holds that it has no jurisdiction under CPR 3.1(7) to set aside libel judgment
On 5 December 2025, Guy Vassall-Adams KC (sitting as a Deputy High Court Judge) dismissed a defendant’s application to set aside the judgments against him, on liability and remedies, on the ground that they had… Read More »
University retracts false ‘forced labour’ claims against Hong Kong company
Sheffield Hallam University today retracted false claims it had published about Hong Kong clothing business Smart Shirts Limited, in a statement in open court read before Mr Justice Nicklin. The University had alleged, in a… Read More »
Meaning ruling in Andy Ngo v Guardian News & Media Ltd
The High Court (DHCJ Guy Vassall-Adams KC) has determined meaning following a preliminary issue trial in a libel claim brought by Andy Ngo, a journalist and the author of the book Unmasked: Inside Antifa’s Radical… Read More »
Claimant refused permission to appeal in Amersi v BBC
The Court of Appeal has refused an application by Mohamed Amersi in his libel claim against the BBC for permission to appeal against parts of a June order of Johnson J concerning interim applications by… Read More »
Home Secretary apologises in open Court to Chowdhury Mueen-Uddin
Today, in the High Court in London before Mrs Justice Hill, the Home Secretary and the Home Office have apologised unreservedly to Chowdhury Mueen-Uddin, a prominent British Muslim community leader, and paid him £225,000 in… Read More »
Summary judgment and permanent injunction granted in corporate harassment claim
In a judgment handed down on 13 November, the High Court has granted summary judgment and a permanent injunction in an action brought by three corporate claimants under the Protection from Harassment Act 1997. The… Read More »
Patrick McCafferty KC to be sworn in as a Justice of the Supreme Court of Queensland
5RB is delighted to announce that Associate Member Patrick McCafferty KC has been appointed to the Supreme Court of Queensland. He will be sworn in on Monday 24 November 2025 and has been assigned to… Read More »
High Court condemns ‘unsubstantiated character assassination’ in £70,000 libel judgment
Dr Matthew Garrett, a software engineer and free software activist, has been awarded £70,000 in damages for libel in a judgment by the High Court. Dr Garrett issued libel proceedings over a number of defamatory… Read More »
Chambers UK Bar Awards 2025
5RB has won the Media, Privacy, Information Law Set of the Year at the Chambers UK Bar Awards 2025. Members of chambers were also shortlisted in the following categories. Media, Privacy, Information Law – Set Media,… Read More »
McGrail Inquiry delivers its final report in Gibraltar
The Inquiry into the Retirement of the Former Commissioner of Police has today delivered its Final Report to the Government of Gibraltar. Julian Santos and Hope Williams of 5RB acted as Counsel to the Inquiry since 2022,… Read More »
Claimant refused permission to appeal in Hegab v Spectator
The Court of Appeal (Civil Division) has refused Mohamed Hegab permission to appeal against the judgment of Johnson J in the High Court ([2025] EWHC 2043 (KB)), which dismissed Mr Hegab’s claims in libel and… Read More »
Identifying wrongdoers – Is there a third, even better alternative?
Article by 5RB’s Chris Zabilowicz The question of how best to identify anonymous online wrongdoers has become increasingly pressing for media and privacy practitioners. Traditionally, claimants have relied on Norwich Pharmacal Orders (“NPOs”) to obtain… Read More »