MLRC European Media Lawyers Conference 2025

Monday June 23, 2025
Belfast, Northern Ireland
Hosted by PwC Belfast, Merchant Square, 20 Wellington Place, Belfast BT1 6GE

Continuing MLRC’s series of annual meetings that began in Paris, Berlin, Amsterdam, and Dublin, we invite you to join us in Belfast for a full day of discussion and networking. The conference brings together media lawyers from the UK, Ireland, Europe and the United States to discuss comparative media law, strategies to defend freedom of expression, and ways to strengthen the media lawyer community.

Program Highlights

• Opening remarks by the Lady Chief Justice of Northern Ireland, Dame Siobhan Keegan DBE
  
• The Judicial Perspective: Trends in Defamation and Media Law across the UK and Ireland
  Speakers include: Mrs Justice Steyn, High Court of England & Wales and Mr Justice Colton, High Court of Northern Ireland.
  
• Investigative Journalism under Fire
  A panel of leading investigative journalists including Gwyneth Jones (BBC Spotlight) and Allison Morris (Belfast Telegraph) will discuss reporting on sensitive topics, protecting sources, and guarding their own safety.
  
• Privacy and Free Speech: In-house Insights
  Leading in-house lawyers will discuss current challenges in Europe – from fending off legal claims to striking the balance between privacy and freedom of expression – as well as their relationships with outside counsel. With Pia Sarma (The Times) and Adam Cannon (News Group).
  
• Public Interest Reporting: Views from the Bar
  Media law barristers on representing press clients in Ireland and the UK. Speakers include Jude Bunting KC, Peter Hopkins KC, Jonathan Scherbel-Ball and Bobbie-Leigh Herdman.
  
• Group discussion of comparative AI and IP issues under UK, Irish, and European Law 

Registration

The registration is $200 US (approx. 160 pounds / 190 euros) and includes lite breakfast, lunch and reception. Register by credit card here. To pay by bank transfer contact:  lzimmermann@medialaw.org