Freedom of Information Seminar 2009

5pm-7pm, Wednesday, 25th March 2009 at the Gray’s Inn Pension Room, Gray’s Inn, London

Accredited with the Law Society for 1.5 CPD points

Richard Spearman QC, Murray Shanks and Philip Coppel will speak on topical aspects of the Freedom of Information Act 2000, from 5pm to 6:30pm (refreshments will follow) on Wednesday, 25th March 2009.

Speakers will provide a short talk on key current issues, relating to Freedom of Information.
The talk will assume some familiarity with the Act.
Full details, including the programme will be sent out in due course, but topics that will be covered include:

• Richard Spearman QC - Confidentiality and FOI Act 2000.
• Murray Shanks - “A Chairman’s Perspective” - Practice and Procedure of the Information Tribunal.
• Philip Coppel - using the FOI Act 2000 as a litigation tool.
The Seminar will finish with a question and answer session.

The full cost, including refreshments is £30+VAT per head (total £34.50).

Richard Spearman QC
Richard Spearman QC has a wide ranging general commercial and common law practice. In particular, he is regularly instructed in cases involving commercial fraud, media and entertainment (contracts, copyright, breach of confidence/privacy, data protection, defamation, arbitration), music industry (contracts, copyright, Copyright Tribunal), sports law (including disciplinary proceedings, arbitration), insurance and reinsurance, sale of goods, restraint of trade, and professional negligence. He has appeared in many reported cases, including cases concerning restraint of trade, freezing injunctions, letters of credit, civil fraud, tracing, judicial review, disclosure, insurance, defamation, copyright, confidence, private information and data protection.

Murray Shanks
Murray Shanks was appointed a Deputy Chairman of the Information Tribunal in August 2007 and has sat on about a dozen appeals. He regularly advises on the Freedom of Information and Data Protection Acts. He is a contributor to Information Rights and has written a number of chapters including those on appeals and the Information Commissioner and Tribunal.

Philip Coppel
Philip Coppel has a varied practice that embraces all aspects of public law, as well as being an experienced trial lawyer. He regularly acts for and against public authorities, including Central Government departments and bodies, local authorities and statutory agencies. He is on the Attorney-General's "B-Panel" of Counsel in Civil Matters. He has a particular interest in the law relating to the disclosure of government-held information and is the author of Information Rights, 2nd ed, Sweet & Maxwell, 2007.

If you have any queries or require further information, please contact Mark Regan or Elliot Langdorf (Clerks) on 020 7404 5252 or by replying to this Email.