Pia Sarma has been appointed as Deputy General Counsel, News UK, a role which will see her expand her responsibilities on industry-wide issues affecting journalism for News UK.

Pia is Editorial Legal Director for The Times and The Sunday Times and her work has also involved working across new legislation, law reform and matters of press regulation. She has defended and won significant cases for Times Newspapers that have strengthened the law supporting public interest journalism  including Hunt v TNL, Cruddas v TNL and Yeo v TNL. She sued Lance Armstrong for recovery of libel damages paid to him after he admitted cheating. She will continue to oversee legal matters for the two papers.

Pia said:

I am very much looking forward to working more with Angus on broader industry matters and taking a lead for News UK on industry-wide issues affecting journalism”.

Angus McBride, General Counsel, News UK said:

Pia has immense expertise on editorial legal issues and a track record of leadership in the broader legal and regulatory environment. She will bring all of this experience to the role and I look forward to working with her.

Pia joined the company in 2009 and became Head of the TNL legal team in 2010. Pia is a board member of the Regulatory Funding Company (RFC) which oversees funding for IPSO and a member of the Media Lawyers’ Association Steering Committee.