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Criminal Defence and Extradition

Journalists and Media Organisations

Bindmans is recognised as a leading firm in advising and representing journalists and media organisations.

We appreciate the growing scrutiny under which members of the press work, and regularly represent journalists who face criminal investigation or prosecution, or who are threatened by the police with interference in their professional activities.

Bindmans has been a leader in the field since 1986 when we successfully defended Clive Ponting, the civil servant prosecuted over the leaking of information about the sinking of the General Belgrano, during the Falklands War. More recently, we represented David Miranda, the partner of a Guardian journalist, in relation to a Terrorism Act Schedule 7 stop, in which the Court of Appeal upheld our client’s challenge to the use of the power, as well as other cases too sensitive to mention.

These cases require specialist skills because of the complex law involved, the public interest issues at stake, and due to the special professional responsibilities of journalists. The firm’s Criminal Defence, Media and Information Law, Public Law, Employment, and Immigration teams are also leaders in their fields and work seamlessly with their colleagues to protect journalistic integrity.

We act and are very experienced in the following kinds of work:

  • Cases involving whistleblowing allegations of Official Secrets Act breaches
  • Representing investigative journalists where undercover investigations have attracted the attention of the police
  • Defending journalists and publishers in proceedings for Contempt of Court and breach of reporting restrictions 
  • Defending journalists covering public demonstrations and public order incidents who find themselves the target of police
  • Advising and representing journalists and broadcasters in relation to applications by the police for production of journalistic material (Production Orders). For example, we successfully represented a journalist and a number of media organisations in judicial review proceedings arising from applications by Essex Police for production orders to hand over footage of the police operation at the Dale Farm traveller camp and advised a media organisation in relation to attempts by the Metropolitan Police to force it to reveal source material relating to disclosures about Operation Weeting

Previous events

  • Please follow the link here to watch our 2019 Bindmans LLP / UCL Debate: State Security -v- Freedom of the Press. This debate focuses on tensions that have been highlighted between the Government’s efforts to protect our democracy and the impact new legislation may have on a free independent press.
  • Also, click here to see notes from a talk to the National Union of Journalists by Katie Wheatley on 30 April 2013, and notes from a seminar held by Katie Wheatley and others on ‘Defending Journalists’ Sources’ in 2015.
Contact

To get in touch with our criminal defence lawyers please use the details below. If you need emergency assistance outside of office hours please call our out of hours phone number.

EMERGENCY – OUT OF HOURS

+44 (0)20 7305 5638

Meet the team

Tayab Ali
Deputy Managing Partner

Crime, Fraud and Regulatory | Head of International Law

Itpal Dhillon
Senior Supervisor

Crime, Fraud and Regulatory

Kate Goold
Partner

Crime, Fraud and Regulatory

Katie Wheatley
Partner

Head of Crime, Fraud and Regulatory

Hester Cavaciuti
Associate

Crime, Fraud and Regulatory

Catherine Jackson
Associate

Crime, Fraud and Regulatory

Jude Lanchin
Associate

Crime, Fraud and Regulatory

Ella Jefferson
Consultant

Crime, Fraud and Regulatory

Lodovica Degan
Solicitor

Crime, Fraud and Regulatory

Hermione Hill
Solicitor

Media and Information Law

Nicholas Jennaway
Solicitor

Crime, Fraud and Regulatory

Ruaa Kamaran
Solicitor

Crime, Fraud and Regulatory

Kiya Mazur
Trainee Solicitor

Crime, Fraud and Regulatory

How can we help you?

We are here to help. If you have any questions for us, please get in touch below.