Freedom of information

Advising a public authority client who received a request for the disclosure of documentation under the Freedom of Information Act from a journalist at a national newspaper. There were concerns over the disclosure of minutes from a board meeting where a sensitive issue was discussed. We advised on the application of two complicated statutory exemptions from disclosure under the Freedom of Information Act 2000. We also provided the client with a letter for onward transmission to the journalist setting out the reasons for not disclosing the board meeting minutes.

Advising a client who received a request for the disclosure of contents of a confidential report from a leading sector publication. The request was refused by our client and referred to the Information Commissioner. We advised our client as to ways in which it could strengthen its position by relying on additional exemptions and providing further analysis. We drafted a robust response to send to the Information Commissioner who accepted our arguments in relation to one of the exemptions relied upon and, as such, upheld our client’s refusal to disclose the report.

Instructing Counsel to appear for a client at an upper tribunal following a request for information on the legal advice obtained by our client from another public sector body. The requestor was relying upon the Environmental Information Regulations 2005, was not represented and did not attend the appeal hearing. We worked with the Information Commissioner’s Office to ensure the upper tribunal had all relevant material before it when considering the appeal which was subsequently dismissed.