Chris Barnes, Leading James Nottage, Successfully Challenges an Anonymity Order in the Matter of Tickle and Summers v BBC, PA, and Others

Judgment has been handed down today in the matter of Tickle and Summers v BBC, PA, and Others, an appeal concerning an order anonymising judges who presided over historical proceedings involving Sara Sharif and her siblings.

Chris Barnes, leading James Nottage, acted for the appellants, freelance journalists Hannah Summers and Louise Tickle, who successfully challenged the anonymity order on substantive and procedural grounds.

An additional seven members of 4PB acted for the respondents in the two-day hearing, including:

• Alex Verdan KC, leading Rebecca Foulkes, instructed by Hilka Hollmann (Dawson Cornwell), representing the Children (through their Children’s Guardian)
• Deirdre Fottrell KC, instructed by Surrey County Council
• Cyrus Larizadeh KC, leading Clarissa Wigoder, instructed by Bridget Thomson (Osborne Law), representing Urfan Sharif
• Joy Brereton KC, leading Amean Elgadhy,instructed by Sanam Khan (City Law Chambers), representing Beinash Batool

The appeal was allowed on all grounds, and represents a significant endorsement of the importance of Open Justice in the Family Courts, and the public role that Judges occupy, which means anonymity for Judges will rarely, if ever, be justified, and that other measures should be preferred which would not require a curtailment of Open Justice.

Read the full judgment here.