5RB is considered ‘the leading set in this area by some distance’, with the chambers being known for housing a significant number of barristers who specialize in defamation and privacy cases. William Bennett successfully acted for Dinah Rose KC in Rose v Ames & Times Media Limited, concerning an article published in The Times alleging she wrongly claimed she had been professionally obliged to represent the Cayman Islands government in a case concerning the jurisdiction’s lack of provision in law for same-sex marriage - the matter settled with an apology in open court from the newspaper. In the Sir James Dyson v Channel Four Television Corporation & Anor, Adam Wolanski KC defended Channel Four in the libel claim made by Sir James concerning allegations made on Channel 4 News concerning working conditions at Dyson’s factories in Malaysia.
Defamation and privacy in
London Bar
5RB
Testimonials
‘Andrew Love is a very good operator.’
‘Antony Braeger is excellent. Easy to deal with and very responsive. Andrew Love is probably the most experienced clerk at the media bar.’
‘Very good clerks, responsive and helpful, as well as being available out of hours. Andrew Love is a top level senior clerk, while Georgina Gills is also very good.’
‘Excellent, prompt and fantastic service.’
‘Very responsive and a pleasure to deal with.’
‘Very efficient and user-friendly.’
‘The quality and service are brilliant. They cannot be faulted.’
‘Brilliant service.’
Work highlights
Matrix Chambers
The barristers at Matrix Chambers continue to act in some of the most widely recognized defamation and privacy cases and are part of an ‘excellent set’ with strong barristers practising from junior to silk level in this field. The chambers often represent well-known clients from major news publications and broadcasters to high profile individuals. Gavin Millar KC is instructed to represent the defendant in Chisti v Telegraph Media Group, a case raising the question of if reports of proceedings in foreign legislatures are protected by similar forms of privilege to reporting of parliament, while Aidan Wills successfully represented Corker Binning, which received summary judgment defeating a claim by a litigant in person that a case law update by the firm was defamatory of him.
Testimonials
‘The practice team is led by Alison Scanes and Chris Beard, who are both excellent and work as equally hard as Counsel to progress a client’s matter with Counsel’s availability.’
‘Matrix clerks are very responsive.’
‘Very good practice team – responsive and helpful in getting cases listed etc.’
‘Excellent’
‘Matrix has a stellar media team that offers availability across all call brackets from juniors to silks and provides first class advice and advice across the relevant fields. ‘
‘Very professional’
‘Strength in depth, responsive barristers who are very approachable and collegiate, with good training and public events.’
‘Matrix Chambers is an excellent set and its members have led the way in developing the various areas of media law.’
Work highlights
11KBW
Described as the ‘go-to’ set for information law, the barristers at 11KBW are frequently instructed in cases concerning media law, data privacy and European law in the online world for more news outlets and social media companies alike. Anya Proops KC recently acted for TikTok in the significant SMO v TikTok case concerning the way the Chinese-owned social media platform processes the data of British children. In Kirk, Marshall & Newton v Associated Newspapers Limited, David Glen is representing a newspaper regarding its coverage of the alleged and highly-publicised blackmail case between actress Charlotte Kirk and film industry executive Ron Meyer. Further strengthening the practice is Hannah Ready, who represented the claimant Chandler v Bryant, concerning tweets published by Labour MP Chris Bryant republishing allegations of money laundering made under parliamentary privilege – the matter settled with an apology from Bryant.
Testimonials
‘Attentive and receptive clerks who provide good customer service.’
Work highlights
Doughty Street Chambers
Doughty Street Chambers offers ‘huge strength in depth when it comes to defamation work’, and its barristers practice across a broad offering of media related issues for clients including broadcasters, social media organizations and investigative journalists among others. Recently appointed Silk Jude Bunting KC was instructed by the Guardian, the Times and the BBC who challenged the Home Secretary’s application for public interest immunity concerning documents relating the proposed summary deportation of refugees to Rwanda. Mark Henderson frequently appears in high-profile libel cases, including recently where he acted for former leader of the opposition Jeremy Corbyn, who was alleged to have defamed a pro-Israel social media campaigner, who Corbyn alleged was “disruptive” at public meetings at which the head of the Palestinian Mission to the United Kingdom was speaking.
Testimonials
‘Melvin Warner has a depth of experience, always willing to assist and is a pleasure to work with.’
‘The Clerks are really helpful – they understand our team’s requirements and deal with any queries promptly.’
‘Sian Wilkins and Melvin Warner are excellent.’
‘Doughty Street are undoubtedly one of the outstanding sets. Their cases set precedents. Their barristers are fierce and are respected globally.’
‘Strong set.’
‘They set the benchmark in this area.’
‘Good range of quality advocates able to compete with the best.’
‘Huge strength in depth when it comes to defamation work.’
Work highlights
5RB
Testimonials
‘Andrew Love is a very good operator.’
‘Antony Braeger is excellent. Easy to deal with and very responsive. Andrew Love is probably the most experienced clerk at the media bar.’
‘Very good clerks, responsive and helpful, as well as being available out of hours. Andrew Love is a top level senior clerk, while Georgina Gills is also very good.’
‘Excellent, prompt and fantastic service.’
‘Very responsive and a pleasure to deal with.’
‘Very efficient and user-friendly.’
‘The quality and service are brilliant. They cannot be faulted.’
‘Brilliant service.’
Work highlights
Matrix Chambers
The barristers at Matrix Chambers continue to act in some of the most widely recognized defamation and privacy cases and are part of an ‘excellent set’ with strong barristers practising from junior to silk level in this field. The chambers often represent well-known clients from major news publications and broadcasters to high profile individuals. Gavin Millar KC is instructed to represent the defendant in Chisti v Telegraph Media Group, a case raising the question of if reports of proceedings in foreign legislatures are protected by similar forms of privilege to reporting of parliament, while Aidan Wills successfully represented Corker Binning, which received summary judgment defeating a claim by a litigant in person that a case law update by the firm was defamatory of him.
Testimonials
‘The practice team is led by Alison Scanes and Chris Beard, who are both excellent and work as equally hard as Counsel to progress a client’s matter with Counsel’s availability.’
‘Matrix clerks are very responsive.’
‘Very good practice team – responsive and helpful in getting cases listed etc.’
‘Excellent’
‘Matrix has a stellar media team that offers availability across all call brackets from juniors to silks and provides first class advice and advice across the relevant fields. ‘
‘Very professional’
‘Strength in depth, responsive barristers who are very approachable and collegiate, with good training and public events.’
‘Matrix Chambers is an excellent set and its members have led the way in developing the various areas of media law.’
Work highlights
11KBW
Described as the ‘go-to’ set for information law, the barristers at 11KBW are frequently instructed in cases concerning media law, data privacy and European law in the online world for more news outlets and social media companies alike. Anya Proops KC recently acted for TikTok in the significant SMO v TikTok case concerning the way the Chinese-owned social media platform processes the data of British children. In Kirk, Marshall & Newton v Associated Newspapers Limited, David Glen is representing a newspaper regarding its coverage of the alleged and highly-publicised blackmail case between actress Charlotte Kirk and film industry executive Ron Meyer. Further strengthening the practice is Hannah Ready, who represented the claimant Chandler v Bryant, concerning tweets published by Labour MP Chris Bryant republishing allegations of money laundering made under parliamentary privilege – the matter settled with an apology from Bryant.
Testimonials
‘Attentive and receptive clerks who provide good customer service.’
Work highlights
Doughty Street Chambers
Doughty Street Chambers offers ‘huge strength in depth when it comes to defamation work’, and its barristers practice across a broad offering of media related issues for clients including broadcasters, social media organizations and investigative journalists among others. Recently appointed Silk Jude Bunting KC was instructed by the Guardian, the Times and the BBC who challenged the Home Secretary’s application for public interest immunity concerning documents relating the proposed summary deportation of refugees to Rwanda. Mark Henderson frequently appears in high-profile libel cases, including recently where he acted for former leader of the opposition Jeremy Corbyn, who was alleged to have defamed a pro-Israel social media campaigner, who Corbyn alleged was “disruptive” at public meetings at which the head of the Palestinian Mission to the United Kingdom was speaking.
Testimonials
‘Melvin Warner has a depth of experience, always willing to assist and is a pleasure to work with.’
‘The Clerks are really helpful – they understand our team’s requirements and deal with any queries promptly.’
‘Sian Wilkins and Melvin Warner are excellent.’
‘Doughty Street are undoubtedly one of the outstanding sets. Their cases set precedents. Their barristers are fierce and are respected globally.’
‘Strong set.’
‘They set the benchmark in this area.’
‘Good range of quality advocates able to compete with the best.’
‘Huge strength in depth when it comes to defamation work.’