Tom Blackburn SC

Tom Blackburn is a leading Australian media law and communications silk who practises in both Australia, where he took silk in 2003, and England and Wales. He has appeared for both plaintiffs and media defendants in Federal and State Courts, including for newspaper, television and news media groups in Australia, both at first instance and on appeal. He is spotlighted in Media and Communications law, Chambers and Partners Asia Pacific 2026, as “a highly regarded media and communications law silk with noted expertise in defamation and privacy in both Australia and the UK”. He is listed in Doyles Guide to the Legal Profession as a recommended Senior Counsel in Technology, Media & Telecommunications and is ranked in litigation in Best Lawyers.

In the UK he is ranked as a leading silk in defamation and privacy law in the United Kingdom 2026 editions of The Legal 500 and Chambers and Partners.

His practice includes commercial disputes, breach of confidence and privacy, defamation, contempt, anti-discrimination, disputes under the Broadcasting Act and administrative/public law. His experience in proceedings for interim relief is extensive. While principally practising from Banco Chambers, Sydney, he continues to practise from 5RB and accepts instructions in all matters involving English media law. 5RB is ranked as a leading set in defamation and privacy by The Legal 500 UK 2026, and as a Band 1 set in the same practice areas by Chambers and Partners UK 2026.

Recently he appeared in the Federal Court for prominent lawyer Peter Bartlett in Ben Roberts-Smith’s defamation appeal in the Federal Court. The relief sought against Mr Bartlett by Roberts-Smith was defeated. He also recently appeared for The Sydney Morning Herald, The Age, the editors of both newspapers, journalists and in-house lawyers when contempt proceedings brought against them in Antoinette Lattouf v ABC. The proceedings against them were all dismissed.

He is currently appearing for ARN Ltd, the owner of radio station KIIS-FM, in the actions brought against it in the Federal Court by radio hosts Kyle Sandilands and “Jackie-O” Henderson.