Month: November 2020

27.11.20

Tutors awarded £30,000 in libel damages after Facebook slur

In Antony & anr v Sivakumar, Richard Spearman QC, sitting as a deputy judge of the High Court, delivered an ex tempore judgment in which he ordered the defendant to pay both claimants £15,000 in damages. The Defendant had published a pseudonymous Facebook ‘review’ on the Claimants’ business page which made a false allegation of…

Divisional Court overturns SDT findings against Ryan Beckwith and warns against the regulation of private lives

Ryan Beckwith emerged victorious from the Divisional Court today having had the limited findings against him made by the Solicitors Disciplinary Tribunal (SDT) last year reversed. In a landmark joint judgment of the President of the Queen’s Bench Division, Lady Justice Sharp DBE, and the Judge in Charge of the Administrative Court (Beckwith v Solicitors…

23.11.20

Brett Wilson LLP’s offices open for face-to-face consultations

Brett Wilson LLP’s London offices have reopened for face-to-face consultations.  Clients who would prefer to have a Skype, Teams or telephone consultation continue to have this option. The safety of clients and staff is of paramount importance.  The firm has a rigorous Covid-19 protocol, approved by the British Safety Council.  All staff and visitors are…

IPSO publishes its 2019 Annual Report

Last month the UK’s largest press regulator, the Independent Press Standards Organisation (‘IPSO’), released its Annual Report for 2019.  IPSO was set up in 2014 in the wake of the Leveson Inquiry into the culture, practices and ethics of the press.  It seeks to hold newspapers and magazines to account for their actions, protect individual…

Should the Supreme Court be less supreme?

The Telegraph has reported that Ministers are understood to be discussing plans to change the name of the Supreme Court, cut the number of permanent judges, and bring in new judges with “specialist” knowledge to hear individual cases.  The government has been considering reform since last year when the Supreme Court ruled unanimously that Boris…

The benefits of Alternate Dispute Resolution and a conciliatory approach to litigation during the pandemic

The Covid-19 pandemic has undoubtedly resulted in difficulties for all types of corporations, felt most significantly due to the financial strains and pressures which the pandemic has caused. The sources and causes of commercial disputes not only continue to exist, but have been amplified as a result of cash-flow concerns, supply and employment issues which…

17.11.20

How long are the police permitted to investigate an alleged crime? (updated 24.05.23)

This is a burning question for most of those unfortunate enough to be under investigation by the police on suspicion of having committed an offence. In most cases, you are unlikely to learn you are under investigation until you are contacted and requested to attend an interview under caution at a police station (often referred…

Streamlined Sentencing Code to be introduced

A new Sentencing Code introduced by the Sentencing Act 2020 will come into force on 1 December 2020.  The new Code will simplify and consolidate over 1,000 pages of current law and procedure that Magistrates and Judges have to apply when sentencing a defendant. The aim of the Sentencing Code is to make the process…

10.11.20

High Court finds wife-beating allegations against Johnny Depp to be substantially true.  Should libel claimants be nervous?

The recent libel judgment handed down in Depp II v News Group Newspapers Ltd [2020] EWHC 2911 (QB) has made headlines around the world and has captured the attention of the public.  It has also been a devastating personal blow for Mr Depp.  He was faced with a libel claimant’s nightmare scenario: a Court finding…