5RB > London, England > Set Profile

Chambers of Adrienne Page KC and Jane Phillips
5RB
5 GRAY'S INN SQUARE
LONDON
WC1R 5AH
England

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London Bar > Defamation and privacy Tier 1

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.

Rising stars

Luke Browne – 5RB ‘He appears experienced beyond his year of call. He is technically excellent and when working with him he is proactive and goes above and beyond.’

Ranked: Tier 1

Leading Silks

Andrew Caldecott KC –5RB

Ranked: Tier 1

Adrienne Page KC –5RB 'Brilliant and robust advocate.'

Ranked: Tier 1

Justin Rushbrooke KC –5RB

Ranked: Tier 2

William Bennett KC –5RB ‘Calm and polite for solicitors to deal with but very clear and ordered as an advocate. Brilliant at cross-examining witnesses because of his non-aggressive approach.’

Ranked: Tier 2

Adam Wolanski KC –5RB ‘Adam has extremely good judgement and is very practical. Clients trust him entirely. His advocacy is straightforward and focused.’

Ranked: Tier 2

Adam Speker KC –5RB ‘Adam has an excellent grasp of the law, exhibiting a calm authority. He has excelled since taking silk and is a go-to counsel.’

Ranked: Tier 3

Jonathan Barnes KC –5RB

Ranked: Tier 3

2022 Silks

Aidan Eardley KC –5RB 'Aidan has encyclopedic legal knowledge; clarity of thought and expression and is very thorough.'

Leading Juniors

David Sherborne –5RB

Ranked: Tier 1

Clara Hamer –5RB ‘Clara’s research and analysis, of both fact and law is very thorough. Her oral advocacy is fearless and determined. She is the best defence barrister at her level of call in this area of the law.’

Ranked: Tier 1

Jacob Dean –5RB ‘Extremely client-friendly, fiercely intelligent and a good strategist. A truly excellent practitioner who one would trust with a variety of matters.’

Ranked: Tier 1

Jane Phillips –5RB ‘Jane is highly intelligent and knows the law inside-out; what sets her apart, however, is her wisdom. She always has a cool head and provides thoughtful, considered advice that is highly valued by us and the client.’

Ranked: Tier 1

Kate Wilson –5RB ‘Brilliant technically, very personable and pragmatic, considered in her advice and efficient to turn work around.’

Ranked: Tier 1

Jonathan Scherbel-Ball –5RB ‘Jonathan has an excellent knowledge of all aspects of defamation, data protection and privacy law. He is exceptionally bright and is always thinking ten steps ahead.’

Ranked: Tier 2

David Hirst –5RB ‘David’s advocacy is well-poised and diligent. He is a great addition to any legal team.’

Ranked: Tier 2

Richard Munden –5RB ‘Richard provides sound and commercial advice.’

Ranked: Tier 2

Alexandra Marzec –5RB

Ranked: Tier 3

Greg Callus – 5RB

Ranked: Tier 3

Julian Santos –5RB

Ranked: Tier 3

Chloe Strong –5RB ‘Thorough and practical.’

Ranked: Tier 3

Godwin Busuttil –5RB ‘Godwin is absolutely meticulous. He is possibly the most thorough barrister solicitors know. He is a tough, uncompromising advocate.’

Ranked: Tier 4

Victoria Jolliffe –5RB ‘Good advocate, knows the law, is excellent with clients.’

Ranked: Tier 4

Gervase de Wilde –5RB

Ranked: Tier 4

Felicity McMahon –5RB ‘Felicity has an excellent defamation and privacy junior practice. She is hardworking and approachable.’

Ranked: Tier 4

John Stables –5RB ‘He’s a pretty good all-rounder, great with clients.’

Ranked: Tier 4

Victoria Simon-Shore –5RB

Ranked: Tier 4

Ben Hamer – 5RB ‘Ben is an excellent advocate, measured, and instils a great sense of confidence that he is putting the client’s best case forward in the best possible manner.’

Ranked: Tier 4

Ben Gallop –5RB 'His attention to detail, legal knowledge and client management skills are impeccable.'

Ranked: Tier 4

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

London Bar > Data protection Tier 2

The team at 5RB stands out for its established expertise in handling, among other areas of data protection law, regulatory issues, ICO investigations and FOIA requests and appeals. Aidan Eardley KC is very experienced in appearing for and against media companies in data protection matters, and is equally strong in representing government departments in high-profile mandates. Among the junior end of chambers, the 'excellent all-rounder' Clara Hamer is singled out for her expertise in advising on complex litigation and major data breach matters. Jonathan Scherbel-Ball is 'tenacious, diligent, and strategic', and Kate Wilson is well versed in both claimant and defendant work, with particular strength in advising public authorities on data protection and privacy claims.

Rising stars

Ben Hamer – 5RB 'A great tactician with a depth of knowledge far beyond his year of call. He has an incredibly sharp legal mind.'

Ranked: Tier 1

Leading Silks

Andrew Caldecott KC – 5RB

Ranked: Tier 1

Justin Rushbrooke KC – 5RB ‘A silk of legendary status. Clients are very impressed by him and want him on their side.'

Ranked: Tier 2

Adam Speker KC – 5RB ‘An excellent strategist: he reads cases and court rooms brilliantly.’

Ranked: Tier 2

2022 Silks

Aidan Eardley KC – 5RB ‘A very technical, detailed and thoughtful silk.'

Leading Juniors

Jonathan Scherbel-Ball – 5RB ‘He is exceptionally bright and is always thinking ten steps ahead.'

Ranked: Tier 2

Clara Hamer – 5RB 'Clara has impressively good knowledge of data protection law and grapples with the difficult issues with ease. She combines confidence with a calm and understanding manner, which makes her a good choice for cases involving sensitive matters.'

Ranked: Tier 2

Jacob Dean – 5RB 'An assured advocate who knows the law inside out.'

Ranked: Tier 3

Kate Wilson – 5RB 'A junior who is considered in her advice.'

Ranked: Tier 3

Testimonials

‘Antony Braeger is excellent. He is easy to deal with and very responsive.’

‘Andrew Love is a very good operator.’

‘Georgina Gills is professional, friendly and responsible.’

‘5RB is really impressive when it comes to data protection.’

‘From top to bottom, you always receive the best.’

‘The set as a whole is strong in data protection law with a great array of experienced barristers at various levels who can be called upon.’

‘Excellent, prompt and fantastic service.’

‘Very responsive and a pleasure to deal with.’

5RB is widely acknowledged and respected as a leading set specialising in media, entertainment and information law, in particular, defamation, privacy, breach of confidence, malicious falsehood, contempt of court, data protection, reporting restrictions and harassment.

The set: There are presently 33 members, including eight silks and one Australian SC. Members have wide experience in all divisions of the High Court and in the appellate courts. They also appear regularly in the criminal and family courts, usually in reporting restrictions matters, and before domestic tribunals, such as Ofcom and the ICO. Chambers regularly receives instructions from overseas. Most members of 5RB undertake public access work. In addition to litigation, members provide pre-publication advice, usually to newspapers, book publishers, media organisations, public authorities and companies.

Types of work undertaken: 5RB enjoys a pre-eminent reputation in cases where there is or may be a clash between freedom of expression and other rights. Members specialise in defamation, malicious falsehood, privacy, breach of confidence, contempt of court, reporting restrictions, data protection, harassment, blackmail and other related causes of action. They are regularly called upon to advise in cases of publication online and on social media, particularly where the identity of a publisher is unknown, and to seek disclosure or apply for Norwich Pharmacal orders. Some members specialise across a broader spectrum of media, entertainment, IP and sports law, including copyright, passing off, broadcasting regulatory work, advertising, and sports tribunal work.

Members of 5RB have appeared in many of the most significant media and communications cases, including PJS v News Group Newspapers (SC); OPO v MLA (SC); Pinar-Byrne v Linton (PC); Gulati and ors v MGN (CA) (Mirror phone-hacking); Weller v ANL (CA); Serafin v Malkiewicz and others (SC); Murray v ANL (CA); Khuja v Times Newspapers (SC); Lachaux v Independent Print Ltd (SC); Sobrinho v Impresa; Cliff Richard v BBC; Yeo v Times Newspapers Ltd; the News Group phone-hacking litigation; Attorney General v Conde Nast. Recent cases include: Vardy v Rooney; Riley v Murray (CA); Duchess of Sussex v Associated Newspapers (CA); Attorney General v BBC; ZXC v Bloomberg (SC); Soriano v Forensic News LLC & ors (CA).

Members of the set write or contribute to the principal textbooks in their field: Gatley on Libel and Slander; Duncan and Neill on Defamation; Clerk & Lindsell on Torts; The Law of Privacy and the Media; Blackstone’s Guide to the Defamation Act; The Law of Photography and Digital Images; Borrie & Lowe: The Law of Contempt; Arlidge, Eady & Smith on Contempt.

Frequently 5RB’s barristers are called upon to advise out-of-hours or to seek or oppose emergency injunctive relief. There are out-of-hours contact arrangements and an on-call rota for advice over weekends and public holidays. 5RB is sensitive to the fact that, as a leading specialist set, different members are often instructed on opposing sides of the same dispute. There are robust arrangements in place to preserve client confidentiality.

Department	Name	Email	Telephone
Senior clerk	LOVE, Andrew
Members of Chambers	PAGE KC, Adrienne (1974) (KC 1999)
Members of Chambers	PHILLIPS, Jane (1989)
Members of Chambers	RUSHBROOKE KC, Justin (1992) (KC 2013)
Members of Chambers	MICHALOS KC, Christina (1994) (KC 2019)
Members of Chambers	BENNETT KC, William (1994) (KC 2019)
Members of Chambers	WOLANSKI KC, Adam (1995) (KC 2019)
Members of Chambers	SPEKER KC, Adam (1999) (KC 2020)
Members of Chambers	BARNES, Jonathan KC (1999) (KC 2021)
Members of Chambers	EARDLEY, Aidan (2002) (KC 2022)
Members of Chambers	BLACKBURN SC, Tom (1988) (SC 2003 Australia)
Members of Chambers	MARZEC, Alexandra (1990)
Members of Chambers	SHERBORNE, David (1992)
Members of Chambers	BUSUTTIL, Godwin (1994)
Members of Chambers	DEAN, Jacob (1995)
Members of Chambers	MUNDEN, Richard (2003)
Members of Chambers	HIRST, David (2003)
Members of Chambers	SIMON-SHORE, Victoria (2005)
Members of Chambers	JOLLIFFE, Victoria (2005)
Members of Chambers	WILSON, Kate (2005)
Members of Chambers	SCHERBEL-BALL, Jonathan (2010)
Members of Chambers	McMAHON, Felicity (2008)
Members of Chambers	SANTOS, Julian (2008)
Members of Chambers	STRONG, Chloe (2010)
Members of Chambers	DE WILDE, Gervase (2012)
Members of Chambers	CALLUS, Greg (2012)
Members of Chambers	HAMER, Clara (2013)
Members of Chambers	STABLES, John (2012)
Members of Chambers	GALLOP, Ben (2017)
Members of Chambers	HAMER, Ben (2017)
Members of Chambers	WALKER-PARR, Lily (2018)
Members of Chambers	BROWNE, Luke (2017)
Members of Chambers	MCNEILL-WALSH, Gemma (2018)
Members of Chambers	WILLIAMS, Hope (2021)
Associate Member	BROWNE KC, Desmond (1969) (KC 1990)
Associate Member	CALDECOTT KC, Andrew (1975) (KC 1999)
Associate Member	MCCAFFERTY KC, Patrick (2005) (KC 2018)
Associate Member	SMITH, Professor Tony (1992)

Name	Position	Profile
Jonathan Barnes KC	Specialises in media and commercial litigation, including defamation, malicious falsehood, contract, agency,…	View Profile
Jonathan Barnes KC	Specialises in media and commercial litigation, including defamation, malicious falsehood, contract, agency,…	View Profile
William Bennett	William originally practised in criminal law before moving into defamation in 1996,…	View Profile
Tom Blackburn SC	Defamation and Malicious Falsehood; Privacy and Confidence; Data Protection and Information Law;…	View Profile
Desmond Browne	Specialises in media law, privacy and defamation. Recent cases include: Berezovsky v…	View Profile
Luke Browne	Defamation and Malicious Falsehood; Privacy and Confidence; Data Protection and Information Law;…	View Profile
Godwin Busuttil	Specialises in media work generally: defamation; malicious falsehood; privacy/confidence; data protection; contempt…	View Profile
Andrew Caldecott	Defamation and Malicious Falsehood; Privacy and Confidence; Data Protection and Information Law;…	View Profile
Greg Callus	Defamation and Malicious Falsehood; Privacy and Confidence; Data Protection and Information Law;…	View Profile
Jacob Dean	Jacob specialises in defamation and privacy, media and entertainment and sports law.…	View Profile
Aidan Eardley KC	Defamation and Malicious Falsehood; Privacy and Confidence; Data Protection and Information Law;…	View Profile
Ben Gallop	Defamation and Malicious Falsehood; Privacy and Confidence; Data Protection and Information Law;…	View Profile
Ben Hamer	Defamation and Malicious Falsehood; Privacy and Confidence; Data Protection and Information Law;…	View Profile
Clara Hamer	Defamation and Malicious Falsehood; Privacy and Confidence; Data Protection and Information Law;…	View Profile
David Hirst	Areas of work include defamation, privacy, malicious falsehood, contempt, reporting restrictions, copyright,…	View Profile
Victoria Jolliffe	Specialises in defamation, privacy, malicious falsehood, harassment and other media related matters.…	View Profile
Alexandra Marzec	Barrister dealing with libel and slander; misuse of private information and breach…	View Profile
Felicity McMahon	Media law barrister practising in defamation, privacy and confidence, data protection, harassment,…	View Profile
Christina Michalos KC	Specialises in copyright, breach of confidence, privacy, passing off, trade marks and…	View Profile
Christina Michalos KC	Specialises in copyright, breach of confidence, privacy, passing off, trade marks and…	View Profile
Patrick Milmo	Defamation, abuse of private information, breach of confidence, horse racing and professional…	View Profile
Richard Alexander John Munden	Specialises in the areas of defamation, private and confidential information, harassment, data…	View Profile
Adrienne Page	Specialises in defamation, privacy and related media law generally. For recent cases…	View Profile
Jane Phillips	Defamation and Malicious Falsehood; Privacy and Confidence; Data Protection and Information Law;…	View Profile
Justin Charles Neil Rushbrooke KC	Specialises in media and entertainment law, in particular libel (including corporate and…	View Profile
Julian Santos	Specialises in defamation, privacy, harassment and data protection. Provides pre-publication advice to…	View Profile
Jonathan Scherbel-Ball	Defamation and Malicious Falsehood; Privacy and Confidence; Data Protection and Information Law;…	View Profile
David Alexander Sherborne	David is a media and entertainment barrister practising at 5RB who specialises…	View Profile
Victoria Simon-Shore	Specialises in media law, including defamation, breach of confidence and privacy. For…	View Profile
Adam Samuel Edward Speker	Specialises in defamation, privacy and media law; for recent and important cases…	View Profile
John Stables	Defamation and Malicious Falsehood; Privacy and Confidence; Data Protection and Information Law;…	View Profile
Chloe Strong	Chloe practises across the range of Chambers’ specialties, with a particular focus…	View Profile
Lily Walker-Parr	Defamation and Malicious Falsehood; Privacy and Confidence; Data Protection and Information Law;…	View Profile
Kate Wilson	Defamation and Malicious Falsehood; Privacy and Confidence; Data Protection and Information Law;…	View Profile
Adam Wolanski	Specialises in media law, including defamation, breach of confidence/privacy and reporting restrictions.…	View Profile
Gervase de Wilde	Gervase joined 5RB in October 2013 following the completion of his pupillage…	View Profile