Holy hackgate: news round-up

updated on 11 November 2011

For ease, here are some of the latest legal developments in the NoTW hacking story:

  • Legal Week and RollOnFriday both report on the revelation that NoTW hired a private investigator to follow two of the main lawyers representing the victims of phone hacking, Mark Lewis of Taylor Hampton Solicitors and Charlotte Harris of Mishcon de Reya.
  • James Murdoch appeared on 10 November in front of the parliamentary select committee. In addition to being compared to a mafia boss, he alleged that former NoTW head of legal Tom Crone and ex-editor Colin Myler had failed in 2008 to tell him about evidence that proved that NoTW reporters were involved in hacking. Crone and Myler dispute Murdoch's claim.
  • News Corp has replaced Farrer & Co with Olswang as its official adviser on all phone-hacking claims. Olswang will also advise on the implementation of the £20 million compensation fund for phone-hacking victims.

For background, see "Law Soc and SRA drawn into hacking story" and "BLP partner claims against NOTW for phone hacking". This one's going to run and run…