Barristers
Andrew Caldecott QC
Email:
ac@onebrickcourt.com
Call: 1975
SPECIALISATION
- Defamation
- Malicious Falsehood/Trade libel
- Breach of Confidence
- Privacy & Data Protection
- Injunctions
- Harassment
- Reporting Restrictions
- Contempt of Court
- Protection of Sources
- Data Protection
- Freedom of Information
- Regulation of Investigatory Powers
- Anonymity orders
- Obscenity laws & Censorship
- Negligent Misstatement
- Media-related judicial review
- Human Rights Law, particularly articles 8 and 10 of the ECHR
Andrew was awarded Chambers and Partners “Defamation and Privacy Silk of the Year” 2005, 2007 and again in 2009. He is consistently recommended as a leading silk in Defamation and privacy in The Legal 500, Chambers and Partners and Legal Experts and is listed as a “Star Individual” in Chambers and Partners 2010. Andrew regularly advises and acts for broadcasters and publishing houses, corporations and celebrities, as well as government departments and ministers in the UK and various foreign jurisdictions.
RECOMMENDATIONS
"a quite simply outstanding advocate and tactician" who is widely regarded as the cleverest and most formidable performer at the Libel Bar. His "brilliant mind" makes him a top choice for very complex matters and he is regularly instructed in the most high-profile cases. Chambers and Partners 2010
Andrew Caldecott QC embodies the set’s best values; he has `a brilliant mind’, is `always effective’ and `valued and respected by all’. The Legal 500 2009/10
the "formidable" Andrew Caldecott QC commands immense respect and "is in a league of his own, always coming up with something innovative in order to do the best job for his clients." A "technically fantastic" silk, he is highly sought-after and is noted for his "great manner and ability to pitch things perfectly in any given situation". Chambers and Partners 2009
Solicitors describe Head of Chambers Andrew Caldecott QC as ‘ streets ahead in libel law’, ‘ easy to get along with’ and ‘ trusted by the courts’. Also described as ‘ supportive and delightful to work with’. Legal 500 2008/9
“One advocate who is no stranger to such cases and accustomed to appearing on the larger stages of the law is Andrew Caldecott QC. He is “forensically brilliant and superb at presenting arguments in front of a judge." "No matter how technical the case, he marshals his arguments beautifully, and can effortlessly sway minds with the power of his advocacy.” Commentators lauded his “incisive mind, tremendous tactical acuity and insatiable appetite for hard work.” Chambers and Partners 2008
“Head of chambers Andrew Caldecott QC, who acted for the defence in Lance Armstrong v Times Newspapers Ltd, is praised to the hilt by solicitors. The plaudits include ‘best in the business’, and ‘an exceptional legal brain’. They also comment that he ‘drafts like a dream’, ‘has a very good focus on the more technical aspects of cases’, and ‘has real presence and is also good commercially’.” The Legal 500 2007/8
“An application to appeal by The Times newspaper in the action brought by cyclist Lance Armstrong – was successfully handled by the libel bar’s ‘blue-eyed boy’: ‘the frighteningly intelligent Andrew Caldecott QC. ‘Not at all arrogant or aloof’, he is extremely popular with solicitors, lay clients and judges: the latter of whom he manages to ‘wrap around his finger’.” The Legal 500 2006/7
“Leader of the pack” at the set is the ‘genius and all round delight’ Andrew Caldecott QC. With a ‘multifaceted approach, heavyweight intellectual mind and a beautiful judged delivery every time,’ he is deemed to possess ‘the perfect attributes to be a judge in the future.’ Clients admire his ‘fair, measured style and immense credibility.”Chambers and Partners 2007
ACADEMIC QUALIFICATIONS
BA (Hons) in Modern History
New College Oxford
Inns of Court School of Law
Pupillage - 1975-6: One Brick Court (media) with Sir David Hirst;
3 Essex Court (now 20 Essex Street) (commercial) with Kenneth Rokison QC
Tenant One Brick Court 1976
Took silk 1994
APPOINTMENTS
Bencher Inner Temple 2004
Head of Chambers 2007
REPRESENTATIVE CASES OF INTEREST
Inquiry
Counsel for the BBC in the Hutton Inquiry
Defamation
- Bray v Deutsche Bank AG [2008] EWHC 1263 (QB) – for the defendant bank, in qualified privilege/malice case concerning a press release
- Bond v BBC (2007) – for BBC in ongoing claim in relation to Panorama programme on ‘bungs’ in football
- Tesco Stores (UK) Ltd v Guardian News & Media Ltd (2009) EMLR 5
- Carmen Mitchell-Briscoe v Constance Briscoe (1) and Hodder & Stoughton (2) (2008) –acted for the defendants. The Defendants successfully advanced a justification defence to the libel action.
- David Moyes v Wayne Rooney (2008) for Claimant
- Lisa Jeynes v News Group Newspapers Ltd (2008) EWCA CIV 130 – for Defendant
- Sir Martin Sorrell (2) Daniela Weber v (1) FullSix SpA (2) FullSix Francia SAS (3) Marco Benatti (4) Marco Tinelli – (2007) Privacy trial
- Gerry & Kate MCann -V- Express Newspapers (2008) – representing the media, offer of amends
- Robert Murat & Ors v Associated Newspapers & ors (2008)
- Armstrong v Times Newspapers (no 2) (2006) EMLR 166 – Libel preliminary issues and mode of trial (CA)
- Henry v BBC – Trial (Gray J) for Defendant
- Armstrong v Times Newspapers (no 1) (2005) EMLR 797 – (CA)
- Greene v Associated Newspapers – (2005) QB 972; (2005) 3 WLR 281; (2005) 1 All ER 30;
- Musa-King v Telegraph (2004) (CA) (2005) 1 WLR 2282; (2004) EMLR 23
- Albert Reynolds v Times Newspapers - (2001) 2 AC 127; (1999) 3 WLR 1010; (1999) 4 All ER 995; (2000) EMLR 1; (2000) HRLR 134 - leading case on qualified privilege at common law/article 10 (HL)
- Al Fagih v H H Saudi Research - (2002 EMLR 215) qualified and “neutral reportage” of political issues (CA)
- Bonnick v Morris (2002 3WLR 820 & 2002 EMLR 37) – (P.C)
- Kearns & Co v The General Council of the Bar (2003) 1 WLR 1357; (2003) 2 All ER 534; (2003) EMLR 27 - Qualified privilege (CA) Claimant’s claim struck out as privileged
- Taylor v SFO (1999 EMLR 1) –Leading case on disclosure of documents and absolute privilege for criminal investigations (HL)
- Mawdsley v Guardian Newspapers (2002) - Libel - of offer of amends
- Major v New Statesman & ors – represented the Prime Minister
- Donal MacIntyre v Chief Constable of Kent (2002)–(2003) EMLR 9 - Qualified privilege
- Sir Michael Edwardes v Times Newspapers (1999) – Trial (Drake J) for Claimant
- Abu v MGN Ltd 2003 EMLR 21 432 - Libel - offer of amends
Breach of confidence/privacy/data protection
- Sophie Dahl v Northern & Shell PLC (2009)
- X & Y v Persons unknown (2006) – (2007) EMLR 10 John Doe Injunctions
- A v B [2005] EWCH 1651 (QB) (2005) EMLR 851 – interim injunction
- Green Corns v Express & Star – (2005) EMLR 31Interim injunction
- Naomi Campbell v Mirror Group Newspapers (2004) 2 AC 457; (2004) 2WLR 1232; (2004) 2 All ER 995 (2004) EMLR 15 (2004) UKHRR 648 - Leading privacy case (HL)
- Lord Ashcroft v Foreign Office and DFID – Data protection and breach of confidence
- Venables v News Group - (2001) 1 All ER 908 : (2001) EMLR 10 : (2001) 2 WLR 1038 : (2001) 1 FLR 791 : (2001) UKHRR 628 : (2001) HRLR 19 - for the Attorney General - anonymity orders
- X and Y v News Group, Mirror Group and anor (2003) EMLR 37 – For the Attorney General on the application of Mary Bell and her daughter for anonymity.
- HRH Princess of Wales v MGN - Trial for the Princess of Wales (1995)
Contempt of court
- AG v MGN – (2008) represented the Respondent
- AG v ITV Central (2008) represented the Respondent
- AG v BBC - (2007) representing BBC on the original application by the AG for an urgent injunction to restrain a potential contempt
- AG v Express – (2005) EMLR 13 - represented the R on the AG’s contempt application
- Attorney General v MGN (2002) - represented Attorney General in relation to an article which halted the Leeds footballers trial.
- Attorney General v Manchester Evening News (2002) - represented Attorney General on breach of the Venables anonymity order.
- Attorney General v MGN & ors (1997 1 ALL ER 456) – represented newspaper in successfully resisting contempt proceedings.
- Attorney General v Unger & ors – (1998) EMLR 280 - represented newspaper in successfully resisting contempt proceedings.
Malicious Falsehood and Trade Libel
- Currys v Comet (2002) FSR 58 – Interim injunction
Obscenity
- R v VAC (ex parte BBFC) [2008] EWHC 203 (Admin) the successful Claimant in Judicial Review proceedings brought by the British Board of Film Classification challenging the Video Appeal Committee’s decision to classify the videowork Manhunt 2 on the basis of an error of law (establishing the correct test for ‘harm’ under the Video Recordings Act 1984).
- Eight Distributors v British Board of Film Classification (2005) - representing the board at Video Appeals Committee hearing
- Blue Underground v British Board of Film Classification, (2002) - represented the Board on classification appeal
PUBLICATIONS AND SEMINARS
- Co-author Halsbury’s Laws Libel and Slander
- Co-author Bullen & leake Queen’s Bench Forms (Libel & Slander and Malicious Falsehood)
- Regularly speaks at conferences and seminars on all aspects of media law