Meet the Trustees: Barrister Rina See

We’re delighted to introduce Rina See as the newest addition to Media Defence’s Board of Trustees. In this instalment of our Meet the Trustees series, we speak with Rina about her journey in law, her passion for media freedom, and what she hopes to bring to Media Defence.

Welcome to the “Meet the Trustees” series. Could you tell us a bit about your background and what inspired you to pursue a career in law?

I grew up in Singapore, studied in New Zealand, and worked as a criminal and regulatory lawyer.  For the last 10 years I have worked in both London and Singapore, focusing on international disputes.

I’ve always been interested in how the law shapes society.  While I was in high school, one defining moment was where an assisted dying campaigner in New Zealand had published a book about her experience with assisting her terminally ill mother to end her life.  She was arrested and sentenced to imprisonment.  That case sparked an ongoing debate about the legality of assisted dying.  It made me appreciate that law was not immutable, but intersects with deeply personal and societal issues that shape values, rights and fundamental freedoms.  That experience, along with having lived in several different countries, inspired me to pursue law as a career, focusing on international disputes.

What initially drew you to Media Defence, and what excites you most about being on the board of trustees?

I first worked with Media Defence while I was at WilmerHale, where I assisted in cases that Media Defence brought in the European Court of Human Rights.  It was such a privilege to have the responsibility of advocating for individuals who had suffered tremendous injustices just by doing their jobs of reporting the truth.  I was also drawn to Media Defence because it operates squarely where law, society, and fundamental rights and values intersect – such as its work in strategic litigation to ensure that the law does, in fact, protect fundamental freedoms.

As part of the board of trustees, I’m looking forward to continuing to contribute to Media Defence’s work protecting journalists and media freedom.  This is especially meaningful at a time where press freedom faces significant challenges and threats.  I am also looking forward to learning more about governance and NGOs, and meeting and working with other trustees, all of whom have such diverse expertise in this area.

How do you see strategic litigation shaping the fight for media freedom, and what impact can it have in protecting journalists at risk? 

Strategic litigation is both powerful and necessary in the fight for media freedom.  More often than not, the legal frameworks in place are insufficient to protect journalists, and may even be used as a means of oppression themselves.  Strategic litigation doesn’t just help the individual journalist, but can set legal precedents that clarify and expand protections for journalists on a broader scale.  Perhaps even more importantly, strategic litigation raises awareness and can spark real change.

A notable example is the Khadija Ismayilova v. Azerbaijan case.  I was not involved at that time, but Media Defence worked with an international legal team that included WilmerHale and Amal Clooney to obtain a unanimous European Court of Human Rights judgment declaring numerous violations of her private life and freedom of expression.  This brought attention to the plight of journalists in Azerbaijan, and international pressure led to her release from prison.

Can you share any memorable or impactful cases you’ve worked on with Media Defence and WilmerHale?

I especially recall the cases we worked on involving journalists in Ukraine, who were tortured or who had lost their lives in the Russia-Ukraine war.  It was a shock when the war started in 2022, but these cases really brought home how journalists risk their lives to bring this news to the world.

We commenced a claim in the European Court of Human Rights on behalf of the family of Sasha Kushynova, a 24-year-old Ukrainian journalist who was killed by a Russian artillery strike while working with Fox News as a fixer.  It was deeply moving to learn about her life that was tragically cut too short.

What do you think are some of the key legal battlegrounds for media freedom and journalist safety in the coming years?

There are many and growing, but three in particular are SLAPP lawsuits, which continue to be a tactic used to intimidate journalists with costly, time-consuming legal battles; online safety regulations that risk becoming tools of censorship if misused; and misinformation laws which too often limit legitimate reporting.

These issues are more complex and difficult to navigate than direct suppression of freedom of expression and physical threats to journalists, but may pose an even greater risk to media freedom because of how pervasive they are. Media Defence’s work in this regard will be very important in making sure a fair balance is struck.

 What’s one book, film, or podcast about journalism or freedom of expression that you’d recommend to everyone?

I really enjoyed Spotlight.  I don’t know how factually accurate it is, but I thought it portrayed movingly how investigative journalism can help bring about justice, the powerful forces that work against it, and the persistence required to uncover the truth.