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NLJ this week: Loss of privacy & the rise of the private FDR

23 May 2025
Issue: 8117 / Categories: Legal News , Family , Privacy , Divorce , ADR , Media
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As family justice becomes more open and transparent, more judgments are being published, writes Beverley Morris, partner and head of London family team, HCR Law. This raises concerns about privacy among those using the courts and is driving them to consider more out-of-court options, such as private financial dispute resolution (private FDR)

Morris writes: ‘Privacy is of paramount importance to most clients. We cannot now assure them, at the outset of their case, that their decision will not be reported.’

She highlights that private FDRs ‘are not the preserve of the wealthy’—it is a competitive market and costs have reduced over time. 

Issue: 8117 / Categories: Legal News , Family , Privacy , Divorce , ADR , Media
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MOVERS & SHAKERS

Hugh James—Phil Edwards

Hugh James—Phil Edwards

Serious injury teambolstered by high-profile partner hire

Freeths—Melanie Stancliffe

Freeths—Melanie Stancliffe

Firm strengthens employment team with partner hire

DAC Beachcroft—Tim Barr

DAC Beachcroft—Tim Barr

Lawyers’ liability practice strengthened with partner appointment in London

NEWS
Tech companies will be legally required to prevent material that encourages or assists serious self-harm appearing on their platforms, under Online Safety Act 2023 regulations due to come into force in the autumn
Commercial leasehold, the defence of insanity and ‘consent’ in the criminal law are among the next tranche of projects for the Law Commission
The Bar has a culture of ‘impunity’ and ‘collusive bystanding’ in which making a complaint is deemed career-ending due to a ‘cohort of untouchables’ at the top, Baroness Harriet Harman KC has found
Lawyers have broadly welcomed plans to electronically tag up to 22,000 more offenders, scrap most prison terms below a year and make prisoners ‘earn’ early release
David Lammy, Ellie Reeves and Baroness Levitt have taken up office at the Ministry of Justice, following the cabinet reshuffle
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