THIS ISSUE
Wills can be witnessed using video conferencing technology, thanks to an emergency COVID-19 executive measure. It defines ‘presence’ in statute for the first time
Narcissism is a common accusation in claims made by separating couples, but it’s actually a complex psychological personality disorder, says David Emmerson, partner, Anthony Gold Solicitors, in this week’s NLJ
In the spirit of Halloween, NLJ columnist Stephen Gold considers the twin horrors of Brexit and COVID-19 in this week's column
Firm adds to private client team
In the light of the coronavirus outbreak, Athelstane Aamodt analyses the approach to managing pandemics across the centuries
With the government retrospectively amending the law to allow for the video-witnessing of wills during the COVID-19 pandemic, is the next step the introduction of dispensing powers & is it a good thing, asks Debra Burton
Dr Lance Eliot reveals what AI Machine Learning brings to the table for the practice of law
Veronica Cowan advocates using technology to innovate in service provision
Ticket touts, inflated prices & misleading information. Alec Samuels revisits the problematic area of resold tickets
MOVERS & SHAKERS
Cripps—Radius Law
Commercial and technology practice boosted by team hire
Switalskis—Grimsby
Firm expands with new Grimsby office to serve North East Lincolnshire
Slater Heelis—Will Newman & Lucy Spilsbury
Property team boosted by two solicitor appointments
NEWS
A High Court ruling involving the Longleat estate has exposed the fault line between modern family building and historic trust drafting. Writing in NLJ this week, Charlotte Coyle, director and family law expert at Freeths, examines Cator v Thynn [2026] EWHC 209 (Ch), where trustees sought approval to modernise trusts that retain pre-1970 definitions of ‘child’, ‘grandchild’ and ‘issue’
Fresh proposals to criminalise ‘nudification’ apps, prioritise cyberflashing and non-consensual intimate images, and even ban under-16s from social media have reignited debate over whether the Online Safety Act 2023 (OSA 2023) is fit for purpose. Writing in NLJ this week, Alexander Brown, head of technology, media and telecommunications, and Alexandra Webster, managing associate, Simmons & Simmons, caution against reactive law-making that could undermine the Act’s ‘risk-based and outcomes-focused’ design
Recent allegations surrounding Peter Mandelson and Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor have reignited scrutiny of the ancient common law offence of misconduct in public office. Writing in NLJ this week, Simon Parsons, teaching fellow at Bath Spa University, asks whether their conduct could clear a notoriously high legal hurdle
A landmark ruling has reshaped child clinical negligence claims. Writing in NLJ this week, Jodi Newton, head of birth and paediatric negligence at Osbornes Law, explains how the Supreme Court in CCC v Sheffield Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust [2026] UKSC 5 has overturned Croke v Wiseman, ending the long-standing bar on children recovering ‘lost years’ earnings
A Court of Appeal ruling has drawn a firm line under party autonomy in arbitration. Writing in NLJ this week, Masood Ahmed, associate professor at the University of Leicester, analyses Gluck v Endzweig [2026] EWCA Civ 145, where a clause allowing arbitrators to amend an award ‘at any time’ was held incompatible with the Arbitration Act 1996
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