Westminster alumnus appointed as Associate Fellow at the Centre for Law, Society and Popular Culture

Associate Fellows at the University of Westminster are valued colleagues who have contributed to the life of the Centre in various ways. The Centre for Law, Society and Popular Culture draws together work from the Westminster Law School and beyond. It has an established reputation, both professionally and academically, and covers areas such as music, sport, film and the media. 

The Centre hosts academic members from across the University, and has a vibrant list of external contributors, including Sir Richard Arnold, Doctor of Law, as a Visiting Professor, and Mike Garry as Writer in Residence. It also publishes a variety of research publications. 

Adam Wolanski QC (Queen’s Council) is a specialist in defamation, privacy, breach of confidence and all other areas of media and information law. His recent work includes acting for the successful defendant in Johnny Depp’s libel action against The Sun and for the BBC. This case was brought by the attorney general to injunct the disclosure of the identity of an MI5 covert human intelligence source.  

He has also been involved in another of other high-profile cases, such as representing Sir Elton John’s ex-wife Renate Blauel in her claim against the singer for breach of contractual privacy, as well as also being instructed in Sir Cliff Richard v BBC on privacy claims. 

Adam has been named one of 17 practicing barristers in The Lawyer magazine’s Hot 100 list for 2021, and he has also written and given lectures and training on media issues to specialist practitioners and judges for many years outside of his legal work. 

Guy Osborn, Professor at Westminster Law School and Director of the Centre who taught Adam when he was a student, noted “Adam was always perceptive and extremely bright, and his amazing success comes as no surprise to me at all. I am delighted he has agreed to join our Centre.” 

Find out more about Westminster’s Research Groups and Centres.