Latest news

The Independent has today published a retraction of allegations made on its front page on 17 September 2009 concerning commodities trader Trafigura. The newspaper has withdrawn allegations concerning the settlement of claims brought against Trafigura by… Read More »

The Press Complaints Commission has dismissed complaints that two articles about the death of Boyzone star Stephen Gately, written by Daily Mail columnist Jan Moir, were inaccurate, intrusive at a time of grief, and discriminatory in breach of clauses… Read More »

The Supreme Court has granted permission to the Defendants in Joseph v Spiller to appeal against a Court of Appeal decision which upheld the striking out of their fair comment defence.   The case concerns… Read More »

5RB hosted its annual charity pub quiz yesterday evening, to raise funds for the Bar Pro Bono Unit and the Free Representation Unit (FRU). Teams from leading media organisations and solicitors firms entered the competition to win the first… Read More »

"Complaints about libel tourism come entirely from the Americans and are based upon a belief that the whole world should share their view about how to strike the balance between freedom of expression and the… Read More »

5RB’s William Bennett has given a presentation  on English defamation law to a meeting convened by the EU Parliament’s Committee on Legal Affairs in Brussels. The committee is attempting to devise a set of rules which… Read More »

5RB’s joint head of chambers Desmond Browne QC has been appointed to a government panel considering changes to the law of libel. The panel, announced yesterday by the Lord Chancellor, Jack Straw, is to consider whether… Read More »

The group Lawyers for Media Standards (LMS) has published a response to the views raised by proponents of reform of defamation law. The report: Something Rotten in the State of English Libel Law? A Rejoinder… Read More »

5RB’s James Price QC yesterday took part in a debate on press freedom at Cambridge Union. The motion was “This House believes the British press has too much freedom”. Keith Schilling, proposing the motion, said… Read More »

      Following Lord Justice Jackson’s review of the rules and principles governing costs in civil litigation the Government has launched a consultation seeking views on a proposal to reduce the maximum success fee… Read More »

Lord Justice Jackson’s review of the rules and principles governing costs in civil litigation was published today.  The report makes a number of important recommendations – most notably, that lawyers’ success fees and ATE insurance premiums should… Read More »

Section 73 of the new Coroners and Justice Act 2009, which came into force today, has abolished the common law offences of sedition, seditious libel, obscene libel and defamatory libel.  The abolition of such offences… Read More »

Peaches Geldof accepted libel damages today over a claim on the front page of the Daily Star that she charged £5,000 a night for sexual services, the High Court heard. The 20-year-old journalist, TV presenter,… Read More »

The Supreme Court of Canada last month adopted a ‘responsible communication’ defence, almost identical to Reynolds privilege in England and Wales. In a judgment delivered on 22 December 2009, Supreme Court Chief Justice Beverley McLachlin, giving the judgment… Read More »

The first day of the new term on Monday will see the return of Desmond Browne QC to full-time practice after his year as Chairman of the Bar. Desmond says: “I never intended to leave… Read More »

Yesterday the BBC joined with Trafigura in a statement in open court withdrawing and apologising for allegations made against Trafigura on Newsnight. The leading commodities trader Trafigura had brought a claim against the BBC over… Read More »

A Statement in Open Court was read yesterday on behalf of Barry George in respect of his claims for libel against News Group Newspapers. Mr George was acquitted in August 2008 of murdering Jill Dando, after… Read More »

Ofcom today launched its revised 2009 Broadcasting Code which sets updated rules for TV and radio broadcasts.  The revised Code is effective from 16 December. Revisions include clarification of audience competitions, voting and the broadcast of… Read More »

Five UK media organisations have today won a significant ruling from the European Court of Human Rights upholding their right to protect journalistic sources. Financial Times Ltd, Independent News & Media Ltd, Guardian Newspapers Ltd, Times Newspapers Ltd… Read More »

A man serving a 22 year minimum sentence for the murder of a woman during an armed robbery has had his libel claim struck out. Peter Williams issued a claim in relation to an article published… Read More »