Andrew Caldecott KC - 5RB Barristers

Andrew was awarded Chambers and Partners “Defamation and Privacy Silk of the Year” in 2005, 2007 and again in 2009. He is consistently recommended as a leading silk in Media and Entertainment and Defamation and Privacy in The Legal 500, and has been listed as a “Star Individual” in Chambers and Partners in every year from 2011. [In addition, Andrew is ranked as a leading silk in Data Protection in The Legal 500 and Chambers and Partners.]

Andrew regularly advises and acts for broadcasters and publishing houses, corporations and celebrities, as well as government departments and ministers in the UK and various foreign jurisdictions. He regularly chairs or contributes to leading media law conferences. He also appeared for the BBC in the Hutton Inquiry and the Guardian in the Leveson Inquiry. He served as the Specialist Legal Advisor to the Parliamentary Joint Committee of the House of Lords and Commons scrutinising the Defamation Bill (later the Defamation Act 2013).

Called

1975 Called to the Bar of England and Wales
1994 Silk

Education

University of Oxford (New College) BA Hons History - 1970-1973

Areas of work

Defamation and Malicious Falsehood
Harassment
General Common Law
Privacy and Confidence
Pre-publication Advice
Reporting the Courts and Contempt
Human Rights
Data Protection and Information Law

Testimonials

“A true expert in his field and a brilliant advocate who leaves no stone unturned. When he talks everyone listens carefully.” “Explains complex, multi-jurisdictional issues with clarity and never forgets the broader strategic objectives of the client.”

Defamation/Privacy Chambers UK 2020

“A pre-eminent KC in libel and privacy, he clearly grasps how data protection law is imposing itself on those areas.” “There’s no better authority when it comes to defence work and he won’t mince his words.”

Data Protection Chambers UK 2020

A star of the Defamation and Privacy Bar, widely regarded as the leading silk in the area. He has unrivalled Supreme Court experience and is continually instructed in high-profile, precedent-setting cases concerning defamation, privacy and malicious falsehood.
“His submissions are treated with great respect by all tribunals from the Supreme Court down.” “Hugely energetic and industrious. He has a brilliant legal mind and pays meticulous attention to detail.”
Recent work: Represented the claimants in Webzilla and Others v Steele and Others, a media law claim relating to the publication of the ‘Trump Dossier.’

Chambers UK 2019

‘A particular pleasure to work with.’

Legal 500 2018