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28 June 2022
Issue: 7985 / Categories: Legal News , In Court , Family
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Family DoLs court to be launched

A National Deprivation of Liberty court (DoLs) is due to be launched next week, the President of the Family Division, Sir Andrew McFarlane has said

It will be based at the Royal Courts of Justice (RCJ) under the leadership of Mr Justice Moor. Subject to judicial direction, cases will be heard remotely.

The court will deal with applications seeking authorisation to deprive children of their liberty, and will be supported by two Family High Court/deputy high court judges each week and a dedicated administrative team based in the RCJ.

From 4 July 2022, all new applications seeking these orders will be issued in the RCJ.

Sir Andrew said: ‘This is important, sensitive work and the continued growth in the number of these applications to the family courts requires the creation of a dedicated listing protocol.

‘The national DoLs court will provide the necessary expertise in dealing with these matters.’

The Nuffield Family Justice Observatory will conduct research into work at the court, and will publish the data regularly on its website.

Issue: 7985 / Categories: Legal News , In Court , Family
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MOVERS & SHAKERS

Cripps—Radius Law

Cripps—Radius Law

Commercial and technology practice boosted by team hire

Switalskis—Grimsby

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Firm expands with new Grimsby office to serve North East Lincolnshire

Slater Heelis—Will Newman & Lucy Spilsbury

Slater Heelis—Will Newman & Lucy Spilsbury

Property team boosted by two solicitor appointments

NEWS
A High Court ruling involving the Longleat estate has exposed the fault line between modern family building and historic trust drafting. Writing in NLJ this week, Charlotte Coyle, director and family law expert at Freeths, examines Cator v Thynn [2026] EWHC 209 (Ch), where trustees sought approval to modernise trusts that retain pre-1970 definitions of ‘child’, ‘grandchild’ and ‘issue’
Fresh proposals to criminalise ‘nudification’ apps, prioritise cyberflashing and non-consensual intimate images, and even ban under-16s from social media have reignited debate over whether the Online Safety Act 2023 (OSA 2023) is fit for purpose. Writing in NLJ this week, Alexander Brown, head of technology, media and telecommunications, and Alexandra Webster, managing associate, Simmons & Simmons, caution against reactive law-making that could undermine the Act’s ‘risk-based and outcomes-focused’ design
Recent allegations surrounding Peter Mandelson and Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor have reignited scrutiny of the ancient common law offence of misconduct in public office. Writing in NLJ this week, Simon Parsons, teaching fellow at Bath Spa University, asks whether their conduct could clear a notoriously high legal hurdle
A landmark ruling has reshaped child clinical negligence claims. Writing in NLJ this week, Jodi Newton, head of birth and paediatric negligence at Osbornes Law, explains how the Supreme Court in CCC v Sheffield Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust [2026] UKSC 5 has overturned Croke v Wiseman, ending the long-standing bar on children recovering ‘lost years’ earnings
A Court of Appeal ruling has drawn a firm line under party autonomy in arbitration. Writing in NLJ this week, Masood Ahmed, associate professor at the University of Leicester, analyses Gluck v Endzweig [2026] EWCA Civ 145, where a clause allowing arbitrators to amend an award ‘at any time’ was held incompatible with the Arbitration Act 1996
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