Set Profile > Chambers of Desmond Browne QC and Justin Rushbrooke QC > London, England

Defamation and privacy Tier 1

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'.

Mediators Tier 1

Data protection Tier 2

As ‘a first-class set’ for media, defamation and privacy work, 5RB utilises this strength across data protection instructions to advise on issues that bridge the two areas. Justin Rushbrooke QC recently acted for Sir Cliff Richard in Sir Cliff Richard v BBC and South Yorkshire Police, a high-profile privacy and Data Protection Act 1998 claim brought following the coverage of a 2014 police raid at the claimant’s home. ‘Excellent communicator’ Andrew Caldecott QC is lead counsel for the defendant construction companies in equally high-profile litigation relating to the alleged blacklisting of construction workers, while Aidan Eardley has notable experience acting for and against media organisations. The set has been strengthened of late, gained seven practitioners, including Caldecott and Eardley, following the closure of One Brick Court.

Media and entertainment (including art and cultural property) Tier 3

‘A leading set for media and reputational matters’, 5RB ‘have huge strength in depth’ and are known for defamation and privacy matters. In a recent highlight Justin Charles Neil Rushbrooke QC successfully represented Sir Cliff Richard in an invasion of privacy claim against the BBC and South Yorkshire Police, in which Aidan Eardley, who recently joined 5RB from One Brick Court, was instructed on the opposing side. Other changes to the set include the arrival of Andrew Caldecott QC also from One Brick Court and Christina Michalos QC’s appointment to silk.

Set overviews: England and Wales

‘The best media sets out there with a massive cross section of counsel covering all aspects of media law’, 5RB is the market leader in defamation and privacy law with instructing solicitors expecting chambers to consolidate its position following the arrival of seven new members from the now defunct One Brick Court (Andrew Caldecott QC, Jane Phillips, Aidan Eardley, Kate Wilson, Jonathan Scherbel-Ball, Clara Hamer, and Ben Gallop). Also strengthening chambers, Adam Wolanski QC, William Bennett QC, and Christina Michalos QC took silk in March 2019, providing further strength in depth which is ‘a real asset when seeking to match up counsel with a particular client’. In addition, solicitors rate the set’s bi-annual conference, which is described as ‘the go-to event’ in media law circles. ‘Special credit’ goes to senior clerk Andrew Love and his deputy, Jamie Clack, who together ‘run a strong, efficient, and very user-friendly clerking team’. Also of note, James Price QC has retired from practice. Offices in: London