Jonathan Scherbel-Ball - 5RB Barristers

Jonathan is recognised as a leading junior practising in all aspects of media, communications and information law. He is currently a member of the Attorney General’s ‘A’ Panel of Junior Counsel to the Crown. In 2024, Jonathan was shortlisted for Media and the Arts Junior of the Year in Legal 500’s Bar Awards, having previously been shortlisted in 2022 for Technology and Data Junior of the Year.

In 2022, Jonathan was appointed to the Advisory Council on National Records and Archives, an independent body that advises the Secretary of State for DCMS on public interest issues relating to public records. Since the autumn of 2024, Jonathan has been a Fee-Paid Judge of the First Tier Tribunal, General Regulatory Chamber.

Recent cases of interest include:

Amersi v BBC (2023 continuing) – Junior Counsel for the BBC in a libel claim brought in relation to an episode of Panorama.
Miller & Power v Turner [2023] EWHC 2799 (KB) – Junior Counsel for the defendant and counterclaimant in a libel and harassment trial arising out of allegations concerning the involvement of the far-right in the art world.
Evans v McMahon (2023) unreported – acting for Claimant at a trial on meaning in a libel and malicious falsehood claim.
Winters and others v News Group Newspapers Ltd[2023] NIKB 45 – acting for the Defendant in a claim concerning legacy litigation arising out of ‘The Troubles’.
R (Newsquest Media Group Limited) v Legally Qualified Chair of Police Misconduct Tribunal[2022] EWHC 299 (Admin) – acting for local newspaper publisher Newsquest in its judicial review claim concerning open justice principles in police misconduct hearings.
Miller & Power v Turner[2021] EWHC 2135 (QB) – Junior Counsel for the Defendant in a libel and harassment claim about publications on twitter.
Timis and anr v BBC and anr[2021] – Junior Counsel for the BBC in a claim for libel and breach of confidence. The Claimants sought damages of more than US$450m arising out of a BBC Panorama investigation into the acquisition of oil and gas concessions in Senegal.
Beswick v Information Commissioner and Public Health England [2021] UKFTT 2019_0335 (GRC) – Counsel for PHE in a Freedom of Information appeal.
MacAirt v JPI Media NI Ltd and others[2021] NIQB 52 – Junior Counsel for the Belfast Newsletter in its successful strike out of claims for privacy and libel.
R (Finch) v Surrey County Council[2021] EWHC 170 (QB), Junior Counsel for the BBC in a contempt application arising out of a live-streamed remote hearing.
Burleigh v Telegraph Media Group Ltd [2020] EWHC 2359 (QB), Junior Counsel for the Defendant in a trial on meaning of an apology to the US First Lady.
M v CAFCASS (2019, unreported) Counsel for CAFCASS in a case about the interaction of data protection law with adoption rules.
Cooper v National Crime Agency[2019] EWCA Civ 16, Junior Counsel for the NCA in a leading case on data sharing in an employment context.
Allen v Times Newspapers Ltd[2019] EWHC 1235 (QB), Counsel for the Times in a trial on meaning.
Appleby Global LLC v BBC and anr [2018] EMLR 14 – Junior Counsel for the BBC in the ‘Paradise Papers’ data leak litigation.
Townsend v Google Inc[2017] NIQB 81 – Junior Counsel for Google in the first right to be forgotten case to be determined substantively by a UK Court.

Cases

Defamation and Privacy

Amersi v BBC [2024] EWHC 774 (KB)
Miller & Power v Turner [2023] EWHC 2799 (KB)
Evans v McMahon (2023) unreported
Winters and others v News Group Newspapers Ltd [2023] NIKB 45
Miller & Power v Turner [2021] EWHC 2135 (QB)
MacAirt v JPI Media NI Ltd and others [2021] NIQB 52
Timis and anr v BBC and anr [2021]
Burleigh v Telegraph Media Group Ltd [2020] EWHC 2359 (QB)
Allen v Times Newspapers Ltd [2019] EWHC 1235 (QB)
Al-Haddad v BBC (unreported, 2017-2018)
KRW Law LLP and others v News Group Newspapers (2017-2018) unreported
Declan Arthurs v News Group Newspapers [2017] NICA 70
Townsend v Google Inc [2017] NIQB 81
Cushnahan v BBC and anr [2017] NIQB 30.
KL & NN v Sunday Newspapers Ltd [2015] NIQB 88
Scappaticci v BBC (unreported 2015)
Slocombe v Ricochet Ltd and Channel 5 (unreported 2015)
Loughran v Century Newspapers [2014] NICA 26
Way v Northcliffe Media Ltd (unreported, 2012)
Neil Morrissey v Associated Newspapers Ltd (unreported, 2011)
Taranissi v BBC [2008] EWHC 2486 (QB) – as a solicitor
Haddock v MGN and others [2008] NICh 14 – as a solicitor

Data Protection and Information Law

Beswick v Information Commissioner [2021] UKFTT 2019_0335 (GRC)
ABC v Google LLC [2019] EWHC 3020 (QB)
M v CAFCASS (2019, unreported)
Ministry of Defence v Information Commissioner [2019] UKFTT 2018/0147
Cooper v National Crime Agency [2019] EWCA Civ 16
Adedeji v Information Commissioner and Department of Health [2018] UKFTT 2017/0110
Cooper v National Crime Agency (2017, unreported)
Hazelwood v ICO & Cabinet Office [2017] UKFTT 2016/0204
Galloway v Frazer, Google Inc and others [2016] NIQB 7
Singh Khosa v Secretary of State for Justice (2016, unreported)
Hegglin v Persons Unknown and Google Inc [2014] EWHC 3793 (QB); [2015] 1 Costs L.O. 65
Miller v ICO and BBC [2014] UKFTT 2013/0253
Newbery v Information Commissioner and BBC [2012] UKFTT 2009/0118
Montford v Information Commissioner and BBC [2012] UKFTT 2009/0114

Reporting Restrictions and Reporting the Courts

Jonathan has appeared on behalf of the media at many high-profile criminal trials, seeking to challenge or vary reporting restrictions. These include R v Hill (2019, the Shoreham air disaster), R v Pryce (allegations of perverting the course of justice), and R v Hayes (LIBOR-rigging allegations).

In addition, he has appeared in the following cases on reporting restriction.

R (Newsquest Media Group Limited) v Legally Qualified Chair of Police Misconduct Tribunal [2022] EWHC 299 (Admin)
Ahmed v BBC (2019) unreported
Hunt v Hunt [2012] All ER (D) 217 (Oct)
R v Premier News Ltd and anr (2012, unreported)

Publications and Seminars

Contributor to the The Law of Privacy and The Media, (4th edition), 2024.

Contributor to Arlidge, Eady and Smith on Contempt, 5th Edition, 2017.

Criminality and Privacy: Uneasy Bedfellows, New Frontiers in Media and Information Law, June 2007.

Media Access to Court Documents: Transparency in the Family Court, Family Law Bar Association Annual Conference, 2014.

Perception and Reality: Publicity Developments in the Family Courts, Family Law Bar Association, December 2013.

Contributing Editor of Survey of English Libel Law, Media Law Resource Center, 2011-2015.

Contributing researcher on comparative defamation analysis for Article 19, the Global Campaign for Free Expression, 2006-07.

The Business of Keeping Secrets, Commercial Litigation Journal, 2007

Called

2010 Called to the Bar of England and Wales
2013 Called to the Bar of Northern Ireland

Education

University of Oxford (Lincoln College) MA (Hons) Modern History and Politics - 2000-2003
Postgraduate Diploma in Law (Oxford Brookes) - 2004
Legal Practice Course, Oxford Institute of Legal Practice - 2005
University of Cambridge (Fitzwilliam College) MPhil Modern European History - 2010

Areas of work

Defamation and Malicious Falsehood
Data Protection and Information Law
Privacy and Confidence
Reporting the Courts and Contempt
Pre-publication Advice
Human Rights
Injunctive Relief
Media regulation

Testimonials

Legal 500 2025 Defamation/Privacy says Jonathan “is an expert on defamation and privacy law and has an extensive practice in London and Belfast. He is extremely sharp on the law and a master tactician. Wonderful to work with.”

Legal 500 2025 Data Protection says, “Jonathan’s written and advocacy skills are excellent in equal measure – he is brilliant with clients and gets on top of his brief in seconds. Extremely capable and a pleasure to work with.”

Legal 500 2024 Defamation/Privacy says 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.”

Chambers and Partners 2025

“Jonathan is the full package – his responsiveness and ability to turn work around quickly without compromising on clients’ commercial needs is remarkable.”

“Jonathan is on top of data protection litigation. He is a technical lawyer and a good draftsman.”

“He is outstandingly good, outstandingly clever and treats clients with a great deal of respect. No one comes close to his advocacy and legal abilities.”

Chambers and Partners 2023 Defamation/Privacy say that Jonathan “provides an exceptional level of service, turning around advice on complex issues quickly and without fuss” and is “very thorough and knows the law. He is outstandingly good.”

Chambers and Partners 2023 Data Protection describe Jonathan as a “go-to junior for data protection issues. He’s very academic, but brings a commercial flavour to the case and is enjoyable to work with.” and “The quality of his advice is unparalleled, and his ability to see the big picture and provide a practical and commercial solution in a given situation is invaluable.”

Legal 500, Defamation and Privacy says that Jonathan is “very tenacious, willing to work extremely hard. Very knowledgeable.”

Chambers and Partners 2021 Defamation/Privacy say that Jonathan is “outstanding on internet intermediary liability. He has a phenomenal ability to analyse complex issues and has fantastic attention to detail.”

Legal 500 2021 Defamation and Privacy says Jonathan has “Impressive speed of turnaround and strength of drafting, enthusiasm, engagement and encouragement in difficult cases.”

Chambers and Partners 2021 Data Protection say that Jonathan is “an enormously hard worker and very detail-focused, and you want him fighting your corner” and “Nothing is too much trouble for him, and he can turn things around incredibly quickly.”

Chambers and Partners 2020 Defamation/Privacy say that Jonathan is “Unbelievably intelligent, incredibly devoted to his work and has very good judgement. A pleasure to work with.”

Chambers and Partners 2020 Data Protection say that Jonathan is “Passionate and absolutely dedicated: he’ll work tirelessly until the job is done.” “Very hard-working and very energetic, he always brings something new.”

Chambers and Partners 2019 Defamation/Privacy says Jonathan “has an excellent knowledge of all aspects of defamation, data protection and privacy law.” Defamation/Privacy)

Chambers and Partners 2019 Data Protection says, “He always goes the extra mile and is all over the case like a dog with a bone. Nothing is ever a problem for him, and he tackles issues head-on.”

Legal 500, 2018 describes Jonathan as “Absolutely meticulous in his analysis and work.”

Chambers and Partners 2018 Data Protection describe Jonathan as “extremely responsive and able to add value in a short span of time”. “A truffle hound for data protection issues, he produces excellent work product and is very hard-working.”

Chambers and Partners 2018 Defamation/Privacy say “He is extremely user-friendly, very sharp, and always up to speed on the most recent case law.”