England - London Bar
3

Defamation and privacy

Doughty Street Chambers

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Doughty Street Chambers has an ‘impressive offering in this area and real strength in-depth as free speech lawyers’, covering a wide array of media and information law issues, including defamation and malicious falsehood, privacy, freedom of information, and harassment. The set is particularly well regarded for its expertise of media and information law with an international element, with Caoilfhionn Gallagher KC acting as leading counsel for award-winning journalist Maria Ressa in defending a litany of criminal charges brought by the Filipino government, including three charges of criminal defamation. Jude Bunting KC was instructed to advise Channel 4 on all aspects of media law related to its documentary about Russell Brand, In Plain Sight, which made a series of serious allegations of sexual misconduct against the former television personality. Mark Henderson represented the claimant in Tahir Alam v Guardian News and Media, a major libel claim following the “Trojan Horse” imbroglio,  which alleged a plot to run a number of schools in the West Midlands according to strict Islamic principles.

Legal 500 Editorial commentary

Testimonials

Collated independently by Legal 500 research team.

  • 'Melvin Warner is an outstanding clerk who always delivers for clients. One of the best in the business.' 
  • 'Melvin Warner is first class and in a league of his own.' 
  • 'Sian Wilkins is a formidable Senior Clerk. One of the best in the business.' 
  • 'The clerks are very good. Melvin Warner, in particular, is excellent. 
  • 'Doughty Street Chambers is an outstandingly good set for media work, and its members are some of the country's leading media lawyers.'
  • 'Doughty Street are an excellent set across the breadth of their expertise.' 
  • 'The media offering at this Chambers is going from strength to strength and rightly giving the more established libel sets a real run for their money.' 
  • 'The best defamation set - a world apart.' 

Silks

Leading Silks
KCs at the very top of their field, with a long-established record of market-defining cases, and widespread endorsement from clients and peers. All silks appointed in the last two rounds are listed further below.
Jude Bunting KC
Jude Bunting KC
Doughty Street Chambers
‘Jude is one of the standout performers of his generation at the Bar. There is little wonder he took silk at such a young age. Phenomenal performer in court, utterly fearless and he charms the judge with the breadth of his legal knowledge.’
Caoilfhionn Gallagher KC
Caoilfhionn Gallagher KC
Doughty Street Chambers
 'With an astute legal mind, passionate and dedicated to the matters she is instructed on Caolifhionn is great to work with. A formidable strategic thinker and a total heavyweight.'

Juniors

Leading Juniors
Leading juniors are those with significant experience of key cases, strong market recognition from both peers and clients, and are seen as future candidates for silk.
Mark Henderson
1
Mark Henderson
Doughty Street Chambers
 ‘Mark is super intelligent, his advocacy is spot on and he works so well with difficult clients. He knows defamation inside out.’
Sarah Palin
2
Sarah Palin
Doughty Street Chambers
‘Sarah is incredibly thorough and tenacious and will not rest until she has chased a difficult factual or legal point down to the answer.’
Claire Overman
2
Claire Overman
Doughty Street Chambers
‘Claire has an impressively broad practice with particular expertise in defamation and privacy issues. She provides pragmatic, concise and dependable advice.’
Jonathan Price
3
Jonathan Price
Doughty Street Chambers
‘Jonathan combines intellect, knowledge, diligence, pure advocacy skill (including in cross-examination, which is not always found in media counsel) and client handling.’
Caroline Addy
4
Caroline Addy
Doughty Street Chambers
'Caroline has a fine analytical mind, and she is able to convey her advice in a readily understandable and user friendly way. She is an effective advocate who judges listen to and respect.'
Beth Grossman
4
Beth Grossman
Doughty Street Chambers
‘Beth is extraordinarily knowledgeable and an excellent strategist.’
Rising stars
Rising stars at the Bar are defined as barristers between four and eight years’ call who are seen as up-and-coming members of the Bar in their respective practice areas by clients and peers alike. They will already be instructed in high-profile, complex, and high-value contentious and non-contentious matters, working with and opposite more experienced leading counsel.
Clare Wisson
Doughty Street Chambers
 ‘A modern and engaging practitioner with a pragmatic and positive outlook. Clare is a future star.’

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