Chris Barnes Discusses Judicial Anonymity on Times Radio and LBC
Having successfully challenged an anonymity order on substantive and procedural grounds in Tickle and Summers v BBC, PA, and Others, a Court of Appeal hearing concerning an order anonymising judges in historical proceedings involving Sara Sharif and her siblings, Chris Barnes will be sharing his insights on judicial anonymity, across major platforms today.
Times Radio – 1:30pm with Geoff Norcott (in for Ayesha Hazarika)
🔗 Listen live: https://www.thetimes.com/radio/schedule
LBC – 4:30pm with Tom Swarbrick
🔗 Listen live: https://www.lbc.co.uk/radio/schedule/
Catherine Wood KC Invited to Speak at the West Sussex Resolution Family Law Seminar
The West Sussex Resolution Family Law Seminar is just one week away, and we are delighted that Catherine Wood KC has been invited to share her expertise in arbitration.
As one of the first barristers to qualify as an Arbitrator in children’s cases and a registered Member of the Chartered Institute of Arbitrators, Catherine is widely regarded not only as one of the leading experts in family law but also as a trusted authority in arbitration, with extensive experience, including 18 years as a Recorder on the South Eastern Circuit, to draw upon. Consistently recognised in Chambers and Partners and Legal 500 for over 20 years, she is praised as an “excellent and persuasive advocate who has enormous authority.” and known for being “exceptionally prepared.”
Her session, “Everything You’ve Always Wanted to Know About Arbitration (But Were Too Afraid to Ask),” promises to offer a practical and engaging overview of arbitration.
For more information about the seminar, click here.
Jacqueline Renton Featured in Legal 500 Bar Editor Will Tolcher’s “The Silk Class of 2025: Ten Names to Note
More congratulations are in order for Jacqueline Renton, who featured in The Silk Class of 2025: Ten Names to Note by Legal 500 Bar Editor Will Tolcher. In this article for Legal Business, he profiles 10 of the most notable names from the 105 individuals appointed in this year’s silk round.
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.
Jacqueline Renton to be appointed as King’s Counsel
Join us in congratulating Jacqueline Renton, who will be appointed to King’s Counsel.
Jacqueline will be formally sworn in at a ceremony on Monday 24th March 2025, where the Lord Chancellor will present Letters Patent on behalf of His Majesty The King.
Joint Head of Chambers, Charles Hale KC commented: ” We are absolutely thrilled for 4pb and delighted for Jacqueline and her family that she is to be appointed King’s Counsel. Few at the family bar deserve the accolade as much as she does. Jacqueline’s appointment takes the number of Silks in chambers to 26, a remarkable achievement!”
Jacqueline specialises in the field of international children law. Jacqueline has appeared in a significant number of the most important decisions in this jurisdiction (and abroad) relating to the development of international children law. Her cases often involve complex and novel points of law, and she has played an important role in the development of this area of jurisprudence for many years. Running alongside her international practice, she also has a substantial practice in complex and high conflict private children law disputes.
Jacqueline has been consistently ranked for many years in Band 1 of Chambers and Partners and The Legal 500, where she is commended as being “a leading barrister in the field of international cross-border children matters”, and “a phenomenal and extraordinary barrister” who “works tirelessly for clients” and is “extremely well-prepared and robust in court.”
9 members of 4PB featured in the 2025 edition of The Spear’s 500
We are delighted that nine members of 4PB have been featured in the 2025 edition of The Spear’s 500 (Spear’s Magazine), which launched today.