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NLJ this week: The curious case of Lord Hermer & the missing speech

28 March 2025
Issue: 8110 / Categories: Legal News , Rule of law
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What is the reason behind the cancellation of a speech this month by the attorney general, Lord Hermer? In this week’s column, Roger Smith, former director of JUSTICE, investigates a mysterious absence and delves into the grey area between politics and law.

He looks at Lord Hermer’s and Sir Keir Starmer’s recent utterings regarding the rule of law and human rights. He ponders whether government ought not to talk the talk about maintaining the rule of law as well as walking the walk. Otherwise, as with a tree that falls in a forest, who notices?

Smith writes: ‘If a state adheres to the rule of law, what value does it have if the state does not explain itself?’ 
Issue: 8110 / Categories: Legal News , Rule of law
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MOVERS & SHAKERS

Quinn Emanuel—James McSweeney

Quinn Emanuel—James McSweeney

London promotion underscores firm’s investment in white collar and investigations

Ward Hadaway—Louise Miller

Ward Hadaway—Louise Miller

Private client team strengthened by partner appointment

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

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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