Recent Work Carried Out by the Team
Ian Hislop, editor of Private Eye, in connection with his giving evidence to the three parliamentary committees, which have been considering defamation law, privacy law and injunctions. We are also assisting him in connection with evidence he has been asked to give to the Leveson enquiry into the media.
MGN Limited in its successful claim that the current system of recoverable Success Fees in Conditional Fee Agreement funded cases against the media was an infringement of Article 10 of the European Convention on Human Rights. We are now representing MGN in seeking compensation from the United Kingdom government arising from the ECHR decision. This is the latest stage of the Naomi Campbell privacy matter.
Macmillan Publishing Ltd on a wide range of issues across their various divisions including:
- copyright and plagiarism advice
- content and licensing agreements; and
- contractual disputes.
Macmillan Digital Sciences Ltd on their first and second round investments in Symplectic Limited resulting in Macmillan taking a majority stake. Symplectic Ltd offers an information management service relating to academic publishing. Our role was drafting, negotiating and settling the investment documents including a subscription and acquisition agreement, shareholders agreement and new articles of association.
Vice UK Limited (publisher of Vice magazine as well as providing web content) on a wide range of legal issues, including:
- ASA issues;
- prize competitions; &
- co-ordinating their grant of sub-licences around Europe and elsewhere.
Jecag Ltd (an affiliate publishing company of Concert Live Limited) in their agreement with John Lydon p/k/a Johnny Rotten of the Sex Pistols and Public Image Limited in connection with the limited edition “Mr Rotten’s Scrapbook”.
MGN in its defence of a claim of invasion of privacy by the former boyfriend of Kylie Minogue, Olivier Martinez. The proceedings have been commenced in France.
MGN disputed the jurisdiction of the Paris court. It argued that there was not a close enough connection between the placing of the information online in the United Kingdom and the alleged damage in French territory. The European Court of Justice has ruled that the French Courts do have jurisdiction. The case has resulted in an important ruling of the ECJ regarding jurisdiction in libel and privacy cases relating to online publication.
Daily Mirror on the defence of a libel claim brought by Frankie Boyle.
Private Eye in its long running quest to overturn the Super Injunction granted to Andrew Marr about his extra marital affair, as a result of which he eventually agreed to lift the ban.
Mirror Group in successfully opposing the attempt by Chris Hutcheson, Gordon Ramsey’s father-in-law to get an injunction preventing details of his secret “second family” being revealed. It was a joint action with The Sun and Daily Mail.
Peter Carron, a former senior partner of wealth management firm, St James’s Place Wealth Management Group PLC. The Mail on Sunday and two journalists) published an article which referred to and are defamatory of our client. Proceedings have been issued and served claiming damages for Libel and an injunction.
Lord Ashcroft on his libel claim against The Independent.
BMG Rights Management GmbH (“BMG”), in relation to its 2011 bid for EMI’s music publishing division. Our team advised on the UK music catalogue issues, trade marks and property matters. The eventual winning bid from the Sony/ATV consortium for EMI’s music publishing division was $2.2 billion.
