Laurence Fox can re-argue that it was defamatory to call him a "racist" in a social media spat, but he must still pay "substantial damages" for libeling two people by calling them "paedophiles" in retaliation, a London appeals court ruled Friday.
Law360 UK
Commercial Litigation
MONDAY, OCTOBER 20, 2025 Law360 iOS App Law360 Android App Follow Law360 on Facebook Follow Law360 on LinkedIn Follow Law360 on Twitter

TOP NEWS

Laurence_Fox_libel_judgments_appeal_44114.jpg

Laurence Fox Granted Retrial Over 'Racist' Libel Claim

By Eddie Beaver

Laurence Fox can re-argue that it was defamatory to call him a "racist" in a social media spat, but he must still pay "substantial damages" for libeling two people by calling them "paedophiles" in retaliation, a London appeals court ruled Friday.

Read full article » | Save to favorites »

Law Society Publishes New Guidance After Mazur Ruling

By William Janes

The professional body for solicitors in England and Wales has issued guidance to help lawyers after a shock ruling that unauthorized law firm staff cannot conduct litigation, even under supervision.

Read full article » | Save to favorites »

Train Operators Cleared Of Abuse In Ticket Class Action

By Sophia Dourou

A group of rail operators have beaten a class action accusing them of abusing their dominant position and forcing some passengers to pay double the fare, after Britain's antitrust tribunal held that they didn't conceal the existence of cheaper tickets.

Read full article » | Save to favorites »

Kevin Spacey Faces Sexual Assault Claim From Hired Driver

By Jamie Lennox

A hired driver has accused Kevin Spacey at a London court of sexually assaulting him on several occasions in the early 2000s, including while he was driving the former Hollywood star to Elton John's home in Windsor.

Read full article » | Save to favorites »

UK Litigation Roundup: Here's What You Missed In London

By Max Austin

This past week in London has seen Johnson & Johnson hit with a £1 billion ($1.34 billion) claim for allegedly selling contaminated baby powder, Carter-Ruck bring a claim against the Solicitors Regulation Authority, and Hewlett Packard file a probate claim against the estate of Mike Lynch.

Read full article » | Save to favorites »

TRANSACTIONS

Football Club Owner Must Buy Back Investor's $97M Stake

By William Janes

A London court ruled on Friday that the owner of a portfolio of professional football clubs was in breach of a deal to buy back an investment vehicle's stake in his company for $97 million.

Read full article » | Save to favorites »

SECURITIES & BANKING

Trader Rejects £10M Claim Over High Risk Investments

By Eddie Beaver

A trading platform has denied owing a Cayman Islands investment fund at least £10 million ($14 million) over an allegedly loss-making decision to sell off its investments in shipping industry contracts, claiming it made the "valid and prudent" decision to sell when it did.

Read full article » | Save to favorites »

COMMERCIAL FRAUD

Man Gets Prison For Hiding Assets In $80M Dubai Bank Case

By Sophia Dourou

A businessman who fraudulently helped three members of his Emirati family evade an £80 million ($107 million) judgment debt to a Dubai bank was sentenced on Friday to two years imprisonment for contempt of court.

Read full article » | Save to favorites »

INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY

Accord Escalates Challenge Over Blood Pressure Patent

By Jamie Lennox

Accord has extended its challenge to Novartis' protections over its blood pressure medication, telling a London court that the original filing underpinning its patent was not inventive.

Read full article » | Save to favorites »

Fire Resistant Cladding Makers Battle Over IP

By Hanna Vioque

A building cladding specialist has denied accusations of patent and design infringement, arguing that a rival should lose the IP protections it was relying on because prior fire safety systems had revealed key features of its tech before the filing date. 

Read full article » | Save to favorites »

EMPLOYMENT & BENEFITS

Calling Colleague 'Male Chauvinist Pig' Is Not Discriminatory

By Hanna Vioque

An employment tribunal has ruled that a female member of staff at a support services firm did not harass a Pakistani Muslim by calling him and others "male chauvinist pigs," because she was complaining about sexist treatment rather than making a racial jab.

Read full article » | Save to favorites »

Shipping Giant Gets Early Win In Ex-Employee's Forgery Case

By Adele Redmond

A global shipping company has beat back a former employee's bid to be paid as he sues the company for allegedly forcing him to resign after he raised concerns that its environmental records had been forged.

Read full article » | Save to favorites »

Promo that reads Law360 Pulse Summer Associates Survey: Part 2 Promo that reads 2025 Regional Powerhouses

LAW FIRMS IN TODAY'S NEWS

Ashurst LLP

BCL Solicitors

Blackstone Chambers

Brett Wilson LLP

Bristows LLP

Burges Salmon

Capsticks Solicitors LLP

Carter-Ruck

Charles Russell Speechlys

Doughty Street Chambers

Edmonds Marshall McMahon

Ellis Jones Solicitors

Essex Court Chambers

Fieldfisher

Fountain Court Chambers

Freshfields

Gateley PLC

HSF Kramer

Hausfeld LLP

Henderson Chambers

Hill Dickinson

Hogarth Chambers

Jones Day

Kennedys Law LLP

Kirkland & Ellis

Laytons LLP

Leigh Day

Littleton Chambers

Matrix Chambers

Monckton Chambers

Pinsent Masons

Quinn Emanuel

RWK Goodman

Reynolds Porter

Signature Litigation LLP

Slaughter and May

Stephenson Harwood

Stewarts Law LLP

Taylor Wessing

Three New Square

Travers Smith

Troutman

Trowers & Hamlins

Watson LLP

COMPANIES IN TODAY'S NEWS

Aldi GmbH & Co. KG

Anglo American PLC

Balfour Beatty PLC

Barclays PLC

Co-operative Group Ltd.

Commercial Bank of Dubai

FedEx Corp.

Heathrow Airport Holdings Ltd.

Hewlett Packard Enterprise Co.

Iceland Foods Ltd.

Intas Pharmaceuticals Ltd.

Investments Ltd.

Johnson & Johnson

Lloyds Bank PLC

Marks & Spencer

Mitsui OSK Lines Ltd.

National Westminster Bank PLC

Novartis AG

Ocado Ltd.

Solicitors Regulation Authority Ltd.

Takeda Pharmaceutical Co. Ltd.

Visa Europe

Volcano Corporation

Wm Morrison Supermarkets PLC

GOVERNMENT AGENCIES IN TODAY'S NEWS

Competition Appeal Tribunal

Secretary of State for Health and Others

UK Court of Appeal

UK High Court

World Intellectual Property Organization