Steeles Law takes F1 chief’s privacy battle to Europe

Norfolk-based Steeles Law has been retained by Formula 1 chief Max Mosley to take his privacy case to the European Court of Human Rights.

The president of the Fédération Internationale de l’Automobile, the governing body of Formula 1, is looking to force a change in English law that will require editors to contact subjects of news stories about any revelations before publishing allegations about their private lives.

The move follows Mosley being awarded £60,000 in damages against the News of the World after the Sunday newspaper alleged that Mosley’s sadomasochistic sex session with five dominatrices had “Nazi connotations”. Mr Justice Eady ruled that the sex orgy involved a portrayal of sadomasochism but not in relation to Nazism.

Steeles litigation chief Dominic Crossley, who is representing Mosley, has instructed David Pannick QC of Blackstone Chambers, assisted by David Sherborne of 5 Raymond Buildings.