Privacy Cases Double Over Four Years
According to figures released by Thomson Reuters, the number of reported cases per year in which a privacy argument was used has doubled since 2009-10. The new statistics show that there were 56 reported cases… Read More »
Defamation Act 2013 – First Cases
The High Court has heard and delivered judgments in the first cases brought under the Defamation Act 2013. In Cooke v MGN [2014] EWHC 2831 (QB), Bean J was asked to decide meaning and serious… Read More »
Conference5RB 2014 update
We want to keep you up-to-date with the latest plans for Conference5RB 2014. In addition to our keynote speaker Lord Neuberger of Abbotsbury, President of the Supreme Court 5RB is pleased to announce additional guest participants. Richard… Read More »
Chambers Bar Awards 2014
5RB is pleased to announce that we have once again been shortlisted for Defamation/Privacy Set of the Year based on research conducted for the next edition of Chambers UK. In addition, Adam Speker has been nominated… Read More »
Mosque libel trial adjourned part-heard
A libel trial which arose from a dispute over the control of the Jamia and Al Noor mosques in Newport, South Wales, has been adjourned on its sixth day because the Fourth Defendant was too ill to continue…. Read More »
Lords: Current laws sufficient for social media offences
The House of Lords Communication Committee, in its report on social media offences, has come to the conclusion that current laws are sufficient. Laws such as the Protection from Harassment Act 1997, and the Communications… Read More »
Witness Immunity Rule Extends to Harassment
The Court of Appeal has today ruled that an individual who makes a complaint to the police cannot be sued for malicious procurement of arrest or false imprisonment or rely upon the complaint to the… Read More »
Garcia v ANL trial begins in the High Court
The trial of the case of Garcia v Associated Newspapers Ltd began today in the High Court before Mr Justice Dingemans. The libel claim relates to an article published in the Daily Mail on 21… Read More »
5RB Arrival
5RB are pleased to announce that current pupil, Julian Santos, has accepted an offer of to join Chambers, commencing in October 2014 on completion of his pupillage. Before undertaking pupillage at 5RB, Julian practised as… Read More »
Lords inquiry into social media offences
The House of Lords Communications Committee is conducting an inquiry into social media and communications offences. The inquiry will look into whether the legislation currently dealing with such offences (which includes the Offences Against the… Read More »
Attorney General to withdraw contempt archives plans
The Attorney General has announced, via written statement to Parliament, that the Government plans to withdraw clauses 51 and 52 from the Criminal Justice and Courts Bill. The clauses, if they became law, would have… Read More »
Police Sergeant awarded £60,000 libel damages
Michael Appleyard, a Police Sergeant based in a small town in West Yorkshire, has won his libel claim against Neil Wilby in relation to words published on Mr Wilby’s website and tweets sent by him…. Read More »
What does “damage” mean under the DPA?
On 11 June 2014, Wikeley J dismissed the Information Commissioner’s appeal (IC v Niebel [2014] UKUT 0255 (AAC)) against the First-Tier Tribunal’s decision to allow Mr Niebel’s appeal against a monetary penalty notice (MPN) of… Read More »
“Core” of major terrorism trial to be held in private
The Court of Appeal has given its decision, with fully reasoned Judgments to follow, on the recent appeal by Guardian News and Media Ltd against a decision by Nicol J that the pending terrorism trial… Read More »
Matthew Nicklin QC becomes Joint Head of Chambers
Following the appointment of former Joint Head of Chambers Mr Justice Warby as a High Court Judge on 10th June 2014, 5RB are delighted to announce that Matthew Nicklin QC has become Joint Head of… Read More »
Mark Warby QC sworn in as a High Court Judge
5RB is proud to announce that Mark Warby QC has been appointed to the High Court Bench. He will be assigned to the Queen’s Bench Division. He will be sworn in at 9.30am on Tuesday… Read More »
Changes to copyright law come into force
On 1 June 2014 three statutory instruments came into force, implementing new exceptions to the law of copyright: the Copyright and Rights in Performances (Disability) Regulations 2014 the Copyright and Rights in Performances (Research, Education,… Read More »
Counsellor receives apology
Associated Newspapers has made a statement in open court apologising to Baylissa Frederick for the publication of articles about her in the Daily Mail and on MailOnline. Ms Frederick works as a counsellor. She is… Read More »
5RB Quiz 2014
5RB hosted its 8th annual charity pub quiz last night, to raise funds for the Bar Pro Bono Unit and the Free Representation Unit (FRU). Teams from many leading solicitors firms and media organisations competed over seven rounds of… Read More »
5RB at the London Legal Walk
The 5RB team of Jonathan Barnes, Adam Speker, Victoria Shore, Felicity McMahon, Chloe Strong, Julian Santos and Justin Simon took part in the London Legal Walk yesterday to raise money for the London Legal Support Trust,… Read More »