Chris Barnes Represents Journalists Louise Tickle and Hannah Summers in an Appeal Over Disclosure in the Sara Sharif Case

Chris Barnes has been representing freelance journalists Louise Tickle and Hannah Summers in the lengthy proceedings seeking disclosure of documents from historic cases involving Sara Sharif and her family, as well as pursuing an application permission to publish information in the public interest.

Last Monday, Ms Tickle and Ms Summers sought, and obtained, a wide—potentially unprecedented—order permitting disclosure and publication of material that has since informed media reporting across the UK.

However, the order also imposed restrictions on the naming of any Judge involved in the historic public and private law proceedings. Acting on their behalf, Chris Barnes lodged an urgent appeal to the Court of Appeal, which today, by way of an order of Sir Geoffrey Vos, the Master of the Rolls, granted permission to appeal that order.

The Court of Appeal acknowledged the “exceptional public interest” and the “legitimate media interest” in the order’s implications. The Master of the Rolls determined that the arguments advanced had “a real prospect of success” and raised questions of “considerable public interest.”

This hearing will mark the first time the Court of Appeal has examined an order anonymising Judges. It is scheduled to take place on 14th and 15th January 2025 and will be live-streamed.