QC ‘tackles’ football and the law at Merseyside business breakfast

01/01/2011

Atlantic Chambers’ John Benson QC gave an insight into the common legal issues footballers can face both on and off the pitch during a keynote speech to a popular Merseyside business breakfast.

The leading barrister, who also sits as a Recorder of the Crown Court, combined his passion for the law and football as he addressed over 40 delegates at Barnardo’s Liverpool business and professional networking breakfast on November 18 2010.

John Benson QC, who is a keen follower of association football and an ardent fan of Liverpool Football Club, delved into the history of litigation claims from careless tackles in sport and touched on the recent popularity of ‘super injunctions’ used to restrict the reporting of high profile stars’ personal lives.

“In the 60s and 70s claims for damages rarely arose when footballers suffered injury on the field of play and it was generally felt part and parcel of the rough and tumble of a contact sport. These days footballers suing each other for damages is fairly commonplace,” John Benson QC told the audience.

He also spoke of the growing press interest in players’ lives off the pitch, and questioned the effectiveness of the ‘super injunctions’ used to prevent the media from publishing information surrounding people’s private lives in an age when everyone has access to the internet and the ability to distribute information anonymously online.

John Benson QC is a leading barrister at Atlantic Chambers practising in civil, employment litigation and serious crime. He has appeared in many high profile matters and recent criminal cases include the death of Gary Newlove in Warrington.

Barnardo's runs 415 projects across the UK and works directly with over 100,000 families providing services for children in poverty, young carers or children who have been sexually exploited.

The Barnardo’s Liverpool business and professional networking event on November 18 2010 took place at Merchants Bar and Grill, Castle Street, Liverpool.

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