In the latest article in the libel bind series, a collaboration between Index on Censorship, English PEN and the Guardian, Afua Hirsch, Guardian legal affairs correspondent, examines some unsavoury legal aspects of the UK defamation industry:

‘But there are aspects of the modern libel industry –– and it is an industry –– that capture some of the most unappealing aspects of the English legal system. The entire area of law is dominated by barristers from only two sets of chambers –– 5 Raymond Buildings and 1 Brick Court (and you can believe I will be watching what I say because the thought of defaming either of them is enough to give any journalist writers’ block). The pervasive presence of these sets of chambers can be gleaned from the fact that libel lawyers instruct them, libel barristers belong to them, and libel judges have graduated from them to the bench.‘

Read the rest here