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10 January 2025 / Ruth Omoregie , Lola Ajayi
Issue: 8099 / Categories: Features , Family , Divorce , Child law
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Family law: looking back & forward

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Ruth Omoregie & Lola Ajayi round up the key developments in family law in 2024, & consider what may lie in store for the year ahead
  • Changes to family law in 2024 included a renewed focus on non-court dispute resolution, more transparency in family proceedings, and new protections for domestic abuse victims.
  • Key decisions dealt with the matrimonialisation of assets, and applications for financial relief after foreign divorces.
  • Areas of potential reform for 2025 may include financial remedies on divorce and the rights of cohabiting couples.

In the ever-evolving landscape of family law, staying informed about recent legal updates is crucial for practitioners, families, and policymakers alike. Over the past year, significant changes have emerged in areas such as non-court dispute resolution (NCDR), court fees, and transparency in court proceedings. These updates not only reflect the shifts in societal values and priorities, but also underscore the need for legal professionals to adapt their practices. This article explores key developments in family law from

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The Supreme Court has delivered a decisive ruling on termination under the JCT Design & Build form. Writing in NLJ this week, Andrew Singer KC and Jonathan Ward, of Kings Chambers, analyse Providence Building Services v Hexagon Housing Association [2026] UKSC 1, which restores the first-instance decision and curbs contractors’ termination rights for repeated late payment
NLJ this week: Old rules, fresh warnings in employment law
Secondments, disciplinary procedures and appeal chaos all feature in a quartet of recent rulings. Writing in NLJ this week, Ian Smith, barrister and emeritus professor of employment law at UEA, examines how established principles are being tested in modern disputes
NLJ this week: The rise of the ‘ChatGPT client’ rattles the profession
The AI revolution is no longer a distant murmur—it’s at the client’s desk. Writing in NLJ this week, Peter Ambrose, CEO of The Partnership and Legalito, warns that the ‘AI chickens’ have ‘come home to roost’, transforming not just legal practice but the lawyer–client relationship itself
NLJ this week: Surrogacy children caught in succession gap
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’
NLJ this week: Online safety law at a crossroads
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
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