New visiting professor appointments for Northumbria’s Law School

Timothy Pitt-Payne, a leading figure in the development of Information Rights as an area of legal practice, is a barrister at 11KBW.

Northumbria University Law School has been at the forefront of developments in the field of Information Rights. It has recently launched a Masters programme in Information Rights Law in conjunction with the Department of Constitutional Affairs which has already exceeded recruitment targets. In addition, the School hosted its first Information Rights Conference entitled ‘Rising to the Challenge’ in June 2006 which was an outstanding success. Both Richard and Timothy were speakers at this event.

Richard Thomas said: “The University has become widely recognised as a trail-blazer for its work on Information Rights. Freedom of information and data protection continue to rise up the agenda - politically, commercially and of course legally. As Information Commissioner, my fundamental role involves promoting public access to official information and protecting privacy and personal information. My appointment is a real honour and recognition of the need to maintain the strongest possible links between information rights practitioners and the academic and educational community.”

Richard and Timothy will each present their inaugural lecture in the area of information rights in the summer.

Timothy Pitt-Payne said: “I am very honoured and excited by this appointment. Information law is a fast moving and exciting area, engaging with many of the major issues of the day. I practise from 11KBW, a barristers’ chambers that includes a specialist Information Law group. I am delighted now to be linked with Northumbria University Law School. Its LLM in Information Rights Law is unique and groundbreaking. I look forward to a long and happy association with the University.”

These appointments will be seen by many in the information rights field as a major coup for the Law School and for Northumbria University.