Our specialist services in this area of practice are led by
Michael Jones QC, head of our Advocacy Unit and dispute resolution
department. A recognised authority in media law, Michael has both
expert knowledge and a career of experience in assisting media
clients. His work includes challenging orders granted under the
Contempt of Court Act 1981, which prevents the reporting of cases
being heard in the High Court, and successfully countering charges
of contempt faced by media clients.
Advocating freedom of expression.
A determined proponent of freedom of speech, Michael has led the
argument for the media to be heard before reporting restrictions
are pronounced. He advanced this argument to the European Court of
Human Rights on behalf of the BBC in 2010, where the ECtHR held
that the failure of the Scottish court system to allow the BBC to
challenge a court reporting ban was a violation of the rights to
freedom of expression and information and also to an effective
remedy.