MEET:
Hugh Tomlinson KC
"A doyen of media law, razor-sharp and one of the most respected and revered barristers in this area."
Legal 500 2021
Hugh has a wide-ranging practice in both private and public law. He is a noted specialist in media and information law including defamation, confidence, privacy and data protection. In addition to his media and human rights work, Hugh has been regularly instructed in substantial commercial, and civil fraud cases.
He has appeared in many high profile cases, including MPs’ expenses (Corporate Officer of House of Commons v IC), the phone hacking litigation, construction workers blacklisting litigation, the Prince of Wales’ case against the Mail on Sunday as well as many leading data protection, libel and privacy injunction cases.
He is joint author of the leading practitioner texts on the law of human rights and on civil actions against the police. He is a visiting Professor of Law at the London School of Economics. He has regularly participated in Council of Europe human rights judicial training seminars.
Hugh is a “Star Individual” in Chambers & Partners 2021 and Tier 1 in Legal 500. His defamation practice includes leading cases on public interest (Loutchansky v Times Newspapers; Bonnick v Morris), qualified privilege (Clift v Slough BC) and the first case on “serious harm” under the Defamation Act 2013 (Cooke v MGN). His recent defamation clients include Sir Stelios Haji-Ioannou, Rebekah Vardy, Mike Ashley and Roman Abramovich. He is generally regarded as the leading claimant lawyer, and has appeared in numerous privacy injunction cases and trials. Most recently, he represented the claimant in Sicri v Associated Newspapers, the first case in which misuse of private information damages were awarded against a national newspaper for the publication of the identity of an arrested suspect.
Hugh is a Band 1 silk in Chambers & Partners 2021 and Tier 1 in Legal 500. He acted for the claimant in the leading case of Vidal-Hall v Google – which resulted in the striking down of the provision of the Data Protection Act 1998 which prevented the recovery of damages for distress. He appeared in the first “right to be forgotten” case (NT1 v Google). Most recently he has acted for the representative claimant in the pioneering opt out group action, Lloyd v Google.
- Online Publication Claims: A Practical Guide, joint editor with Guy Vassall-Adams QC (Matrix, 2017)
- Lenders Claims, with T Grant (Sweet & Maxwell, 2010)
- The Law of Human Rights, with R Clayton, (Oxford University Press, 2nd Edition, 2009).
- Civil Actions Against the Police, with R Clayton (Sweet & Maxwell, 3rd Edition, 2004)
Hugh is committed to protecting and respecting your privacy. In order to provide legal services to his clients, including advice and representation services, Hugh needs to collect and hold personal data. This includes his client’s personal data and the personal data of others who feature in the matter upon which he is instructed. To read Hugh privacy notice in full, please see here.
"He's brilliant: innovative, and comes up with approaches geared towards his clients' objectives."
"He is so extraordinary to work with. You don't think your opinion of him could go up but it still does." "Hugh is very user-friendly, very pragmatic and a lovely man. He has a strong sense of commitment to his client." "He has a very good understanding of the law outside his area giving important context. He is the most experienced and reliable in this area."
"A fantastic barrister and advocate."
"The leading authority on privacy law issues and very user-friendly" "Hugh is straightforward and progressive. He is probably the top person to go to for privacy law."
"Hugh is very pragmatic and practical and quite innovative in his strategic thinking." "Hugh combines superb knowledge and experience with a sound commercial sense."
"He is extremely knowledgeable and experienced and a go-to in this area. He has a lot of gravitas and experience behind him." "Hugh combines superb knowledge and experience with a sound commercial savvy."
"Hugh is a walking encyclopaedia. Also an excellent advocate and cross-examiner."
"He has an encyclopedic knowledge of the law, is very bright and always calls it right."
"He is very knowledgeable." "He is a very creative lawyer."
"He is very creative in his approach." "A ferocious advocate and takes an innovative approach."
"A fount of knowledge and a formidable advocate."
"A superstar; a doyen of the media law world. Always available to share his wisdom."
"Very good at applying the law to real-world problems that clients are contending with and thinks creatively to come up with workable solutions."
"A doyen of media law, razor-sharp and one of the most respected and revered barristers in this area."
"He is the leading expert in [the data protection] field. He has a phenomenal breadth of knowledge and experience. He is highly intellectual but approaches issues in a practical way, cutting to the heart of problems. He is at the forefront in developing the application of data protection law, and is innovative in his approach."
MAIN AREAS OF PRACTICE:
- Civil Liberties and Human Rights
- Commercial Law
- Commercial Public Law
- Court Orders affecting the Media
- Crime
- Data Protection
- Defamation and Privacy
- Harassment
- International Arbitration
- Media and Information Law
- Mediation
- Police, Inquests and Prison
- Public International Law
- Public Law
- Public Law: Information, Data and Privacy
- Sports Law
+44 (0)20 7404 3447
"A doyen of media law, razor-sharp and one of the most respected and revered barristers in this area."
Legal 500 2021
MAIN AREAS OF PRACTICE
- International Arbitration
- Commercial Law
- Crime
- Media and Information Law
- Court Orders affecting the Media
- Defamation and Privacy
- Harassment
- Civil Liberties and Human Rights
- Injunctions
- Mediation
- Police Law
- Public Law
- Public International Law
- Sports Law
- Data Protection
- Public Law: Information, Data and Privacy
- Police, Inquests and Prison
- Commercial Public Law
Hugh Tomlinson KC
Contact Hugh: hughtomlinson@matrixlaw.co.uk | +44 (0)20 7404 3447
Contact Hugh's Practice Team (Team M): TeamM@matrixlaw.co.uk
Hugh has a wide-ranging practice in both private and public law. He is a noted specialist in media and information law including defamation, confidence, privacy and data protection. In addition to his media and human rights work, Hugh has been regularly instructed in substantial commercial, and civil fraud cases.
He has appeared in many high profile cases, including MPs’ expenses (Corporate Officer of House of Commons v IC), the phone hacking litigation, construction workers blacklisting litigation, the Prince of Wales’ case against the Mail on Sunday as well as many leading data protection, libel and privacy injunction cases.
He is joint author of the leading practitioner texts on the law of human rights and on civil actions against the police. He is a visiting Professor of Law at the London School of Economics. He has regularly participated in Council of Europe human rights judicial training seminars.
Media and Information Law
Hugh is a “Star Individual” in Chambers & Partners 2021 and Tier 1 in Legal 500. His defamation practice includes leading cases on public interest (Loutchansky v Times Newspapers; Bonnick v Morris), qualified privilege (Clift v Slough BC) and the first case on “serious harm” under the Defamation Act 2013 (Cooke v MGN). His recent defamation clients include Sir Stelios Haji-Ioannou, Rebekah Vardy, Mike Ashley and Roman Abramovich. He is generally regarded as the leading claimant lawyer, and has appeared in numerous privacy injunction cases and trials. Most recently, he represented the claimant in Sicri v Associated Newspapers, the first case in which misuse of private information damages were awarded against a national newspaper for the publication of the identity of an arrested suspect.
Data Protection Law
Hugh is a Band 1 silk in Chambers & Partners 2021 and Tier 1 in Legal 500. He acted for the claimant in the leading case of Vidal-Hall v Google – which resulted in the striking down of the provision of the Data Protection Act 1998 which prevented the recovery of damages for distress. He appeared in the first “right to be forgotten” case (NT1 v Google). Most recently he has acted for the representative claimant in the pioneering opt out group action, Lloyd v Google.
Publications
- Online Publication Claims: A Practical Guide, joint editor with Guy Vassall-Adams QC (Matrix, 2017)
- Lenders Claims, with T Grant (Sweet & Maxwell, 2010)
- The Law of Human Rights, with R Clayton, (Oxford University Press, 2nd Edition, 2009).
- Civil Actions Against the Police, with R Clayton (Sweet & Maxwell, 3rd Edition, 2004)
Hugh's Privacy Notice
Hugh is committed to protecting and respecting your privacy. In order to provide legal services to his clients, including advice and representation services, Hugh needs to collect and hold personal data. This includes his client’s personal data and the personal data of others who feature in the matter upon which he is instructed. To read Hugh privacy notice in full, please see here.
DIRECTORY RECOMMENDATIONS
"He's brilliant: innovative, and comes up with approaches geared towards his clients' objectives."
"He is so extraordinary to work with. You don't think your opinion of him could go up but it still does." "Hugh is very user-friendly, very pragmatic and a lovely man. He has a strong sense of commitment to his client." "He has a very good understanding of the law outside his area giving important context. He is the most experienced and reliable in this area."
"A fantastic barrister and advocate."
"The leading authority on privacy law issues and very user-friendly" "Hugh is straightforward and progressive. He is probably the top person to go to for privacy law."
"Hugh is very pragmatic and practical and quite innovative in his strategic thinking." "Hugh combines superb knowledge and experience with a sound commercial sense."
"He is extremely knowledgeable and experienced and a go-to in this area. He has a lot of gravitas and experience behind him." "Hugh combines superb knowledge and experience with a sound commercial savvy."
"Hugh is a walking encyclopaedia. Also an excellent advocate and cross-examiner."
"He has an encyclopedic knowledge of the law, is very bright and always calls it right."
"He is very knowledgeable." "He is a very creative lawyer."
"He is very creative in his approach." "A ferocious advocate and takes an innovative approach."
"A fount of knowledge and a formidable advocate."
"A superstar; a doyen of the media law world. Always available to share his wisdom."
"Very good at applying the law to real-world problems that clients are contending with and thinks creatively to come up with workable solutions."
"A doyen of media law, razor-sharp and one of the most respected and revered barristers in this area."
"He is the leading expert in [the data protection] field. He has a phenomenal breadth of knowledge and experience. He is highly intellectual but approaches issues in a practical way, cutting to the heart of problems. He is at the forefront in developing the application of data protection law, and is innovative in his approach."