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NLJ this week: Form N510—not just a box to tick

31 October 2025
Issue: 8137 / Categories: Legal News , Procedure & practice , Civil way , CPR
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NLJ columnist Stephen Gold dives into the quirks of civil practice, from the Court of Appeal’s fierce defence of form N510 to fresh reminders about compliance and interest claims, in this week's Civil Way

In Robertson v Google LLC, a claimant’s failure to file the N510 before serving out of jurisdiction proved fatal, confirming that CPR rules can’t be sidestepped via general relief provisions.

Elsewhere, Gold highlights how judges are drawing inferences from absent witnesses and insisting parties follow every step of court-ordered service.

On the money front, Pharos Offshore v Keynvor Morlift confirmed that late payment interest applies even to VAT, with a juicy 12% rate offering creditors a lawful windfall.

Gold’s trademark wit runs through the piece, reminding practitioners that procedural shortcuts rarely pay—and that even minor forms, like the N510, can make or break a case.

MOVERS & SHAKERS

Freeths—Ruth Clare

Freeths—Ruth Clare

National real estate team bolstered by partner hire in Manchester

Farrer & Co—Claire Gordon

Farrer & Co—Claire Gordon

Partner appointed head of family team

mfg Solicitors—Neil Harrison

mfg Solicitors—Neil Harrison

Firm strengthens agriculture and rural affairs team with partner return

NEWS
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The Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) has launched a recruitment drive for talented early career and more senior barristers and solicitors
Regulators differed in the clarity and consistency of their post-Mazur advice and guidance, according to an interim report by the Legal Services Board (LSB)
The dangers of uncritical artificial intelligence (AI) use in legal practice are no longer hypothetical. In this week's NLJ, Dr Charanjit Singh of Holborn Chambers examines cases where lawyers relied on ‘hallucinated’ citations — entirely fictitious authorities generated by AI tools
The Solicitors Act 1974 may still underpin legal regulation, but its age is increasingly showing. Writing in NLJ this week, Victoria Morrison-Hughes of the Association of Costs Lawyers argues that the Act is ‘out of step with modern consumer law’ and actively deters fairness
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