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Law digests: 5 September 2025

05 September 2025
Issue: 8129 / Categories: Case law , In Court , Law digest
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Consumer credit

Johnson v FirstRand Bank Ltd (London Branch) (trading as Motonovo Finance) and other cases [2025] UKSC 33

The Supreme Court, in three conjoined appeals concerning the payment of commission by finance lenders to motor dealers in connection with the provision of finance for the hire purchase of cars, found that such commissions were neither bribes under common law nor secret profits in equity due to the absence of fiduciary duties between dealers and customers. Each of the customers had brought proceedings against the lenders, claiming that the commissions amounted to bribes, or to secret profits received by the dealers as fiduciaries. The court held that the customers’ claims against the lenders in equity and in tort could not succeed. The lenders’ appeals in the Hopcraft and Wrench cases, and in the Johnson case so far as it was based on tort or equity, were allowed. The court also held that Mr Johnson is entitled to succeed in his claim under s 140A of the Consumer Credit Act 1974, but for

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MOVERS & SHAKERS

NLJ Career Profile: Kate Gaskell, Flex Legal

NLJ Career Profile: Kate Gaskell, Flex Legal

Kate Gaskell, CEO of Flex Legal, reflects on chasing her childhood dreams underscores the importance of welcoming those from all backgrounds into the profession

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Dispute resolution team welcomes associate in London

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Winckworth Sherwood—Kevin McManamon

Special education needs and mental capacity expert joins as partner

NEWS
Overcrowded prisons, mental health hospitals and immigration centres are failing to meet international and domestic human rights standards, the National Preventive Mechanism (NPM) has warned
Two speedier and more streamlined qualification routes have been launched for probate and conveyancing professionals
Workplace stress was a contributing factor in almost one in eight cases before the employment tribunal last year, indicating its endemic grip on the UK workplace
In NLJ this week, Ian Smith, emeritus professor at UEA, explores major developments in employment law from the Supreme Court and appellate courts
Writing in NLJ this week, Kamran Rehman and Harriet Campbell of Penningtons Manches Cooper examine Operafund Eco-Invest SICAV plc v Spain, where the Commercial Court held that ICSID and Energy Charter Treaty awards cannot be assigned
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