Bates Wells

Dispute Resolution

Rupert is a Partner and the Head of Media Litigation at Bates Wells, specialising in media, public/regulatory, advertising and consumer law issues, both in and out of court.

Public law: numerous cases for the Advertising Standards Authority, including City Fibre v ASA 2019 and Actegy v ASA 2019; challenges to Transport for London's ban on advertising for Northern Cyprus, FCDO for cuts in overseas aid budget, DEFRA for failure to enforce animal welfare legislation in respect of broiler chickens.

Defamation: defending numerous libel actions for Times Newspapers and other publishers, including Cruddas v Calvert, CA 2015; Takenaka v Frankl, first anonymous email libel tracing action to reach trial; disclosure actions against Facebook, Twitter, BT, etc; libel action for Prince Nayef against The Independent.

Freedom of information: several cases for journalists and authors, including MPs additional cost allowances case against House of Commons, Kennedy v Charity Commission (Supreme Court 2014) and Lownie v University of Southampton and Cabinet Office.

Broadcasting: Licensing disputes with Ofcom

Partner, Bates Wells, 2007

Partner, Theodore Goddard/Addleshaw Goddard, 1997-2007

Admitted as a Solicitor, 1988

Trainee, Theodore Goddard

Member of the Administrative Law Bar Association

Member of the Advertising Law Group

Member of the Society for Computing and the Law

Cambridge University, BA History, 1982