The Legal 500 > United Kingdom - The Bar > London Bar > Defamation and privacy

5RB is well-established for handling a wide range of media and communication law instructions including defamation, privacy, and data privacy. Described as a 'strong set with a number of experienced counsel in this area', chambers was, of late, involved in several extremely high-profile cases including Sir Cliff Richard v BBC, where Godwin Busuttil led by Justin Rushbrooke QC acted for the claimant. In Nick Brown MP v Faber & Faber and Tom Bower, Adrienne Page QC and Jacob Dean acted for the claimant against the acclaimed author and publisher of Broken Vows; Andrew Caldecott QC and Clara Hamer represented the defendants. Since the resolution of this case, Caldecott QC and Hamer have joined chambers from the now dissolved One Brick Court. They arrived with Aidan Eardley, Jane Phillips, Jonathan Scherbel-Ball, Kate Wilson, and Ben Gallop, bolstering the set's ranks and cementing its place as 'the market leader in the field of defamation and privacy law'.

The multi-disciplinary Matrix Chambers fields a growing media team and is recognised as 'an increasing force in the new media law landscape'; over the course of 2018, both Catrin Evans QC and Ian Helme joined chambers from One Brick Court. Of note, the set was instructed on two landmark cases: Gavin Millar QC represented the BBC in Sir Cliff Richard v BBC; Hugh Tomlinson QC acted on the claimant side in NT1/NT2 v Google, while Antony White QC and Evans QC represented the tech giant. Solicitors say the set creates a 'direct personal relationship with the clients' and is known to be the home of privacy injunctions.

'Powerhouse' privacy set 11KBW is quickly adapting to the new media law landscape where traditional defamation claims are increasingly combined with online data privacy and information rights. Anya Proops QC represented Morrisons in the data protection, breach of confidence and misuse of private information group litigation claim brought by current and former employees which has consequently gone to the Supreme Court. In light of One Brick Court dissolving, the set welcomed David Glen and Hannah Ready, further strengthening chambers in the sector. 

Ely Place Chambers continues to take on defamation and privacy matters and is expected to become more prominent in this area of law with Timothy Atkinson's arrival from One Brick Court. The junior was instructed to act for the claimant in Irina Bokova v Associated Newspapers. Other work highlights include William McCormick QC acting for the defendants in EuroEco Fuels v Szczecin Seaports Authorities.