Former News Of The World editor Andy Coulson has won his battle over the payment of his legal costs in the phone hacking affair.
The ex-Downing Street communications chief won his appeal against a High Court ruling that News Group Newspapers (NGN) does not have to pay his legal expenses.
Coulson, 44, sued over the construction of a clause within the severance agreement he signed in 2007 on leaving the News Of The World after NGN stopped reimbursing him for the fees.
He sought a declaration that the company "must pay the professional costs and expenses properly incurred" by him "in defending allegations of criminal conduct" during his tenure.
Lord Justice Laws, Lord Justice Sullivan and Lord Justice McCombe, sitting at the Court of Appeal in London, allowed the appeal.
NGN could now take the case to the Supreme Court.
The firm's counsel argued at the High Court in December that the clause being challenged covered the "occupational hazards of being an editor" and not alleged criminal activity.
It maintained that, if there was an obligation, it was triggered at the stage when proceedings are complete.
But the Court of Appeal allowed Coulson's lawyers to admit fresh evidence relating to the criminal investigation.
This included material in the press, which NGN would neither confirm nor deny, that ex-News International chief Rebekah Brooks and some current employees of The Sun appeared to have been indemnified in respect of some criminal proceedings as they went along, rather than waiting until the end.
Lord Justice McCombe, giving the unanimous ruling of the court, said he was "satisfied" that the contract did cover the costs and expenses of defending the criminal allegations.
Coulson has been charged with conspiracy to pervert the course of justice over allegations that he tried to cover up evidence of phone hacking.
Earlier this month, it was announced he faced new charges over alleged bungs to public officials in return for news stories.
Coulson is accused of conspiring to pay for information about the royal family, including an internal phone directory known as the Green Book.
The former Number 10 communications director has always denied any wrongdoing and has vowed to fight to clear his name.
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