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Mark Stephens is appointed in new libel law working group

Thursday 4 February 2010

UEL’s Chair of Governors and distinguished media lawyer, Mark Stephens has been appointed by Justice Secretary, Jack Straw, along with other top newspaper excecutives and scientists to a Government panel considering changes to the law on libel.

Mark, who is a partner with law firm Stephens Finers Innocent, will along with the rest of the group, investigate concerns that the current law is having a ‘chilling effect’ on freedom of expression.

Mark is a UEL graduate and holds a number of Government-sanctioned, regulatory and charitable appointments. He also has a major interest and commitment to fundamental human rights and regularly practises before the European Court of Human Rights – mainly on freedom of expression issues.

The group is expected to produce a report in the middle of March. Other members include Gill Phillips, director of editorial legal services at Guardian News and Media, Sunday Times editor, John Witherow, Sarah Jones, head of litigation and intellectual property at the BBC and Tracey Brown, managing director of Sense about Science.

Notes to Editors

The University of East London (UEL) is a global learning community with over 28,000 students from over 120 countries world-wide. Our vision is to achieve recognition, both nationally and internationally, as a successful and inclusive regional university proud of its diversity, committed to new modes of learning which focus on students and enhance their employability, and renowned for our contribution to social, cultural and economic development, especially through our research and scholarship. We have a strong track-record in widening participation and working with industry.

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