Rupert Earle

Rupert is a Consultant (Senior Counsel) in the Public and Regulatory team and is the Head of Media Litigation at Bates Wells, specialising in media, public/regulatory, advertising and consumer law issues, both in and out of court. Public law: numerous cases for the Advertising Standards Authority, including City Fibre v ASA 2019 and Actegy v ASA 2019; challenges to Transport for London's ban on advertising for Northern Cyprus, FCDO for cuts in overseas aid budget, DEFRA for failure to enforce animal welfare legislation in respect of broiler chickens. Defamation: defending numerous libel actions for Times Newspapers and other publishers, including Cruddas v Calvert, CA 2015; Takenaka v Frankl, first anonymous email libel tracing action to reach trial; disclosure actions against Facebook, Twitter, BT, etc; libel action for Prince Nayef against The Independent. Freedom of information: several cases for journalists and authors, including MPs additional cost allowances case against House of Commons, Kennedy v Charity Commission (Supreme Court 2014) and Lownie v University of Southampton and Cabinet Office. Broadcasting: Licensing disputes with Ofcom · Bates Wells

EnglandMedia, Public / Regulatory

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About

Rupert is a Consultant (Senior Counsel) in the Public and Regulatory team at Bates Wells and Head of Media Litigation, specialising in media, public/regulatory, advertising and consumer law issues both in and out of court.

Practice areas

MediaPublic / RegulatoryAdvertising & MarketingDefamationFreedom of InformationBroadcastingConsumer Protection

Office

England

Bates Wells · Rupert is a Consultant (Senior Counsel) in the Public and Regulatory team and is the Head of Media Litigation at Bates Wells, specialising in media, public/regulatory, advertising and consumer law issues, both in and out of court. Public law: numerous cases for the Advertising Standards Authority, including City Fibre v ASA 2019 and Actegy v ASA 2019; challenges to Transport for London's ban on advertising for Northern Cyprus, FCDO for cuts in overseas aid budget, DEFRA for failure to enforce animal welfare legislation in respect of broiler chickens. Defamation: defending numerous libel actions for Times Newspapers and other publishers, including Cruddas v Calvert, CA 2015; Takenaka v Frankl, first anonymous email libel tracing action to reach trial; disclosure actions against Facebook, Twitter, BT, etc; libel action for Prince Nayef against The Independent. Freedom of information: several cases for journalists and authors, including MPs additional cost allowances case against House of Commons, Kennedy v Charity Commission (Supreme Court 2014) and Lownie v University of Southampton and Cabinet Office. Broadcasting: Licensing disputes with Ofcom

England

Expertise

Media litigation (including publisher defence)Advertising Standards Authority casesPublic law challenges and judicial reviewDefamation and libel proceedingsFreedom of information litigationBroadcasting licensing disputes (Ofcom)

Education

BA History, Cambridge University (1982)

Admissions

Admitted as a solicitor, 1988