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NLJ this week: Wills by Zoom

13 August 2020
Issue: 7899 / Categories: Legal News , Covid-19 , Wills & Probate
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Recent intervention by justice ministers to clarify that wills witnessed remotely during the COVID-19 pandemic will be considered valid has proved controversial in some quarters

It gave rise to fears remote witnessing would remove safeguards against undue influence and fraud. According to consultant solicitor Nicholas Bevan, however, common law interpreted ‘presence’ fairly broadly anyway. 

In the second part of a two-part series on the witnessing of wills, Bevan looks at the lead up to the government’s announcement of an emergency measure and the approach likely to be taken. 

Read more here. 

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
Ceri Morgan, knowledge counsel at Herbert Smith Freehills Kramer LLP, analyses the Supreme Court’s landmark decision in Johnson v FirstRand Bank Ltd, which reshapes the law of fiduciary relationships and common law bribery
The boundaries of media access in family law are scrutinised by Nicholas Dobson in NLJ this week
Reflecting on personal experience, Professor Graham Zellick KC, Senior Master of the Bench and former Reader of the Middle Temple, questions the unchecked power of parliamentary privilege
Geoff Dover, managing director at Heirloom Fair Legal, sets out a blueprint for ethical litigation funding in the wake of high-profile law firm collapses
James Grice, head of innovation and AI at Lawfront, explores how artificial intelligence is transforming the legal sector
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