Our service:

Clients in the media field choose the firm because:

• of our significant track record in the sector, particularly our work advising the likes of CNN, Turner, The Times, New York Times,  Washington Post, Dow Jones, Bloomberg and National Geographic
• our interest in the sector means we are at the forefront of emerging technologies and the consequential business opportunities or risks they represent - our 'google event' and 'Brighter Future' publications are good examples of this
• we can provide 'full service' support: for example media organisations also call on us to advise on employment and property matters as well as commercial agreements and disputes
• our track record in innovation: many of our cases are ground-breaking and have set important precedents regarding 'freedom of the press'
• we have relationships, and track record with the related parties media organisations need to contract and negotiate with
• our profile: Mark Stephens is the best known 'media friendly' legal commentator and is called to comment on a daily basis on a wide range of issues
• of our Privy Council and the European Court of Human Rights cases for overseas applicants.  There has been an increase in demand for advocacy & litigation support services particularly in SE Asia. Mark Stephens has been intimately involved in this area
• our team are recognised and highly regarded for their work in both the European Court of Human Rights and Privy Council for libel cases
• the team have practiced before the UN Committee of Human Rights
• the team have given advice to States, Government organisations and NGOs e.g. the Foreign & Commonwealth Office, IREX, World Bank Institute, SE Asia Press Alliance and the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association.  Support given has included:
  - training in legal skills to countries to bring compliance to world standards
  - drafting and providing audits for domestic legislation to international standards 
  -  advising on libel, privacy, protection of sources and freedom of information.  Particular support has been given to NGOs as large businesses try to root-out whistleblowers of corrupt practices through the use of libel proceedings against NGOs
  
  

RECENT EXPERIENCE ADVISING:

• Bloomberg in challenging reporting restrictions imposed on the media in respect of employment tribunals.  Such tribunals have historically been difficult for the media to access
• Harper -v- Seaga: an example of the team operating at the very highest levels again. Another important Privy Council decision as to the interpretation of the effect of the Reynolds defence in the context of political speech. Recovered $1,500,000 damages and costs for the former deputy police chief in Jamaica from the former Prime Minister, Edward Seaga
• groundbreaking case defending Nobel nominated NGO, Global Witness, in a claim brought by the son of the President of Congo Brazzaville to obtain details of sources and prevent publication of allegations of corruption. The case was raised in both Parliament and in the US Senate
• Darrell Hair, one of the world’s top ranked international cricket umpires, who in November 2006 was removed by the ICC from top level match umpiring following the 4th Test Match between England and Pakistan in August 2006 and the awarding of the match to England after Pakistan failed to retake the field
• Mumsnet, the online parenting website, was threatened with legal action for alledgedly defamatory content on its forum. The case raised much high profile debate surrounding the current laws on Internet liability and the difficulties faced by websites
• a significant number of NGOs e.g. Center for Investigative Reporting - Bosnia-Herzegovina, Organized Crime Reporting Project, Journalism Development Group, Global Witness, Index on Censorship, Republic, Open Society Institute, International Alert and Human Rights Watch
• the Foreign Office on free expression
• the owners of the Daily Telegraph on their acquisition of Victoria Plaza
• The Business - providing copyright and data protection advice and disputes regarding publishing rights
• a national newspaper on proposed industrial action by the workforce
• CNN on the differences between the US and UK copyright defences of fair use and fair dealing
• Express Newspapers Limited in litigation by Animated Expressions Limited for alleged breach of various agreements. The matter was struck out and Express was awarded costs
• leading financial media distributor on the creation and protection of new database products
• international TV corporation on the format right situation in relation to a major new television series
• Dow Jones/Wall Street Journal Jameel v Wall Street Journal Europe - this year saw the victory of our client the Wall Street Journal Europe in its final appeal to the House of Lords on Reynolds Qualified Privilege. The case has been heralded a resounding victory for investigative reporting, and the publication in issue was considered by the House to be exactly the type of non-sensational journalism that Reynolds was designed to protect. The decision marks a shift of approach in the UK’s libel law
• Associated Press on challenging the long standing reporting restrictions around criminal trials. New and liberal guidelines were given to all Courts by a powerful Court of Appeal which opened up the reporting of many criminal trials which had been eroded in recent years. R. v Dhiren Barot. Advice and representation in relation to contempt issues arising from reporting restrictions on terror trials

Mark Stephens and Pia Sarma interview Sir John Mortimer at Stationers Hall