The University of Westminster was joined by Sir Richard Arnold, alumnus, Visiting Professor at Westminster Law School and Court of Appeal judge, who gave the annual Westminster Law School Lecture on Tuesday 15 February at Portland Hall on the Little Titchfield Street Campus.
The lecture marks Sir Richard’s sixth annual lecture, with this year’s event focusing on ‘Musicians’ Contracts and the Streaming Economy’. The event was organised by the Centre for Law, Society and Popular Culture, a research centre which draws work together from the Westminster Law School and beyond, covering areas including music, sport, film and the media.
Sir Richard delivered a detailed and absorbing analysis of recent developments around music streaming, which was chaired by Chris Ellins, Senior Lecturer at Westminster Law School, and introduced by Professor Luke Mason, Head of Westminster Law School. Following the lecture, there was a dedicated Q&A session with Sir Richard.
He was awarded an Honorary Doctorate from the University of Westminster in 2017 for his services to law and his contributions to the Westminster Law School. He obtained his Diploma in Law from the University’s predecessor, the Polytechnic of Central London in 1984 and was called to the Bar of England and Wales shortly after in 1985. In 2000, Sir Richard became a Queen’s Counsel (QC).
Appointed to the High Court Bench in October 2008, Sir Richard specialised in intellectual property, entertainment and media law, and data protection, both domestically and in European Courts and Tribunals. He was Chairman of the Code of Practice for the Promotion of Animal Medicines Committee from 2002 – 2008, an Appointed Person hearing trademark appeals from 2003 – 2008 and a Deputy High Court Judge from 2004 – 2008.
In 2013, he was appointed to be Judge in Charge of the Patents Court and as an External Member of the Enlarged Board of Appeal of the European Patent Office in 2016. In 2019, he was appointed as one of five judges at the UK Court of Appeal.
Talking about the lecture, Professor Luke Mason said: “As well as being the first Westminster alumni to sit as a Court of Appeal judge, Sir Richard is a world-leading expert on matters of intellectual property and entertainment law. His annual lecture is a highlight of our academic calendar, and reflects our close connection with legal practice and innovation. It underscores the leading work done by the School’s Centre for Law, Society and Popular culture, and our unique programmes in entertainment law.”
Guy Osborn, Professor at the Westminster Law School and Co-Director of the Centre for Law, Society and Popular Culture added: “We are always delighted to have Sir Richard come back to Westminster Law School. Not only is his grasp of the area second to none, but he is always so generous with his time and brilliant with the students and guests who ask him questions. We are proud to be able to call Sir Richard one of our alumni, the first Court of Appeal judge to have graduated from Westminster Law School.”
