High Court refuses Solicitor General permission to bring contempt proceedings against protestor
The High Court has refused the Solicitor General permission to bring proceedings for contempt against Ms Trudi Warner, a retired social worker who on 27 March 2023 stood outside the entrance used by jurors at… Read More »
5RB Charity Quiz 2024
Last week, 5RB hosted its 16th annual charity quiz at the Crypt on the Green to raise funds for Advocate and the Free Representation Unit. This year we were joined by 25 teams from various… Read More »
Preliminary issue judgment in Amersi v BBC
The High Court has given judgment on preliminary issues in a libel claim brought by Mr Mohamed Amersi against the BBC. Mr Amersi is suing the BBC over an episode of Panorama and an article… Read More »
Judgment handed down in Andrew Bridgen MP v Matt Hancock MP strike-out application
Judgment has been handed down in a strike-out application by former health secretary Matt Hancock MP in respect of a libel claim brought against him by Andrew Bridgen MP, MP for North West Leicestershire. Mr… Read More »
5RB sponsors Best Actor award at Critics’ Circle Theatre Awards
5RB was proud to sponsor the Best Actor Award at this year’s Critics’ Circle Theatre Awards which took place yesterday at the Soho Place Theatre. Andrew Scott received the award for playing all eight roles… Read More »
High Court awards £90,000 damages to West End actor and theatre producer, Simon Schofield
The High Court has today awarded £90,000 damages to Simon Schofield, an award-winning theatrical producer, actor, and creative director, well-known for his roles in various West End productions, including The Sound of Music, Joseph and… Read More »
Andrew Bridgen MP v Matt Hancock MP
The court will hear today an application to strike out a libel claim brought by Andrew Bridgen MP in respect of a Tweet by Matt Hancock MP published in January 2023. The Defendant contends that… Read More »
Court to determine meaning of film ‘The Lost King’
A trial of preliminary issues will take place today before HHJ Lewis (sitting as a Judge of the High Court) in a claim brought by Richard Taylor against Pathe Productions Limited, Baby Cow Productions Limited… Read More »
Meaning decision in Dyson v C4
A ruling on meaning has been handed down in the long-running litigation between companies in the Dyson Group and the broadcasters Channel 4 and ITN. In the decision by HHJ Lewis, handed down on 27… Read More »
Aidan Eardley KC appointed Deputy High Court Judge
5RB are delighted to announce that Aidan Eardley KC has been appointed by the Lady Chief Justice to sit as a Deputy High Court Judge under s9(4) of the Senior Courts Act 1981. The appointment… Read More »
5RB hosts BVL student internship
Last week, 5RB hosted students from BVL, a social mobility charity which provides guidance and opportunities to aspiring lawyers aged 16-18. Over two days, the students were given talks on defamation by Adrienne Page KC… Read More »
Indemnity costs after Mirror hacking trial
The Managing Judge in the Mirror Newspapers Hacking Litigation, Mr Justice Fancourt, has today handed down judgment on costs and permission to appeal following the trial in May-June 2023 and the hand down of the… Read More »
Judgment in rare slander trial
The defamation claim in Griffin v North Cumbria Integrated Care NHS Foundation Trust was made over a telephone call to follow up an employment reference provided by the Defendant about the Claimant. The claim was successfully defended… Read More »
A ‘SLAPP’ Struck Out: NI Court Finds Proceedings are Abuse of Process
In 1989, George W Pring described so-called SLAPPs (Strategic Lawsuits Against Public Participation) as a “new (and, we believe, growing) litigation phenomenon” in America. Since then, although there has been significant adoption of anti-SLAPP laws… Read More »
Judgment in Blake and others v Fox
Following a trial of preliminary issues and subsequent appeal, on 29 January 2024 Mrs Justice Collins Rice handed down judgment in the substantive libel trial of Blake and others v Fox ([2024] EWHC 146 (KB))…. Read More »
Pupillage: 5RB seeking to recruit for 2025
5RB is seeking to recruit up to two pupils to begin their 12-month training in October 2025. Applications must be made through the Pupillage Gateway system by midnight on 7 February 2024. Information about the… Read More »
Richard Rampton KC
We are incredibly sad to announce the death of Richard Rampton KC, our valued colleague, friend, and former Head of Chambers at 1 Brick Court. Joint Head of 5RB, Jane Phillips, said: “Richard was a… Read More »
Source protection in the High Court
The High Court has today handed down judgment refusing applications by Stokoe Partnership Solicitors and Karam al Sadeq for non-party disclosure orders against the Sunday Times, the Bureau of Investigative Journalism and its editor, Franz… Read More »
David Sherborne named The Times Lawyer of the Week
David Sherborne has been named “Lawyer of the Week” by The Times, following the handing down of judgment last Friday in the Mirror phone hacking litigation. The article references David’s successful appearance in that litigation… Read More »
Bermuda CA dismisses injunction appeal
On 13 December, judgment was handed down by the Bermudian Court of Appeal, dismissing the appeal against two decisions of the lower court to make and, subsequently, maintain an interim injunction requiring the appellant publisher… Read More »