Media and information law specialist Anthony Hudson has been appointed a Queen’s Counsel, it was announced yesterday.
Mr Hudson, who practices at Matrix Chambers, is known for his appearances in a number of notable cases involving reporting restrictions.
These included acting for the media in the 2010 case of Venables and Thompson v NGN Ltd & Ors in relation to application to amend an injunction relating to the killers of James Bulger following fresh proceedings against Venables in open court in which he was convicted of child pornography charges.
He represented the Crown Prosecution Service in R (on the application of Harper and Johncox) v Aldershot Magistrates’ Court, in which the Divisional Court held that there was no adverse impact to the administration of justice by publishing the addresses of the claimant senior police officers, who had been charged with offences of misconduct in a public office.
Mr Hudson appeared for the media in the important case of R (on the application of Trinity Mirror Plc & Others) v Croydon Crown Court, in which an enlarged Court of Appeal held that the Crown Court had no jurisdiction to make an order restraining the identification of an individual convicted of child pornography offences in order to protect his children.
He acted for MGN in the case it took to the European Court of Justice in Strasbourg in which it was held that 100% success fees claimed by Naomi Campbell’s lawyers in relation to her privacy battle with the newspaper group breached the right to freedom of expression guaranteed by Article 10 of the Convention.
In 2013 he represented Times Newspapers Ltd in its successful defence of a libel claim brought by David Hunt over allegations that he was the head of an organised crime network involved in murder, drug trafficking and fraud.
Mr Hudson, who was named Defamation Junior of the Year in the 2010 Chambers Bar Awards, also acts in a wide range of cases including commercial law, sports law, election law and intellectual property, particularly when they involve freedom of expression or privacy.
He is one of 93 new QCs named yesterday.
QCs are appointed by the Queen on the advice of the Lord Chancellor, following consideration by the independent Queen’s Counsel Selection Panel.
This year’s new group includes 25 women, 10 lawyers who declared an ethnic origin other than white, nine applicants over the age of 50, five solicitor advocates, and three individuals who declared a disability.
This article originally appeared on the online subscription service Media Lawyer and is reproduced with permission and thanks.
Very many congratulations to the much admired and respected Anthony, and to his new home Matrix. Amber