Metzner Associés lawyer instructed by Harbottles over Kate photos

The Metzner Associés partner is instructed by Harbottle & Lewis partner Gerrard Tyrrell (14 Sept 2012) on behalf of the royal couple and yesterday appeared before a Parisian court to apply to block further publication of the photographs.

The French magazine is owned by Italian publishing group Mondadori. Its lawyers have instructed sole practitioner Delphine Pando.

Hamelle has also asked the court to fine Closer €10,000 (£8,070) a day for each day the injunction is not respected, and €100,000 (£80,720) if the photos are sold. He added that the royal couple wanted all editions of the magazine removed from the shops, and to ban further distribution of the photos.

But Pando told the court that Closer does not own the photos and so they are not theirs to sell.

Hamelle was called to the Paris Bar in 2003 after starting his career with Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer in its Paris and London international dispute resolution practices.

He specialises in high-profile white collar crime, including money laundering, corruption, insider dealing as well as libel and slander. He represented British designer John Galliano who was found guilty of using anti-Semetic language in a Paris bar last year.

Tyrrell was also instructed by the Royal Family over the publications of naked pictures of Prince Harry (24 August 2012).

According to reports the Duke and Duchess won the application for an injunction this morning.