THIS ISSUE
In the second part of an article on access to justice and technology, Roger Smith considers the unique story of QualitySolicitors, the nationally branded High Street solicitors, and the impact of technology on the traditional firm model
Rebranding the past―when historical ideals fall short of modern values
The pandemic narrowed the options for law firm marketing events, leading to a plethora of webinars and Zoom networking events. But, with everyone using the same approaches, how do you cut through the noise and make yourself stand out?
Legal expenses insurance is rarely used by consumers and should be more widely promoted as a solution to unmet legal needs, the Legal Services Board (LSB) has said
Probate fees could be hiked to as much as £273 from their current level of £155 (for applications from legal professionals) and £215 (for non-professionals), under Ministry of Justice (MoJ) proposals
A major trial concerning liability for oil pollution in the Niger Delta is to go ahead in the High Court after Royal Dutch Shell and its Nigerian subsidiary SPDC confirmed it would not contest jurisdictional issues
A culture-change in litigation could be on the cards following a Civil Justice Council (CJC) decision that compulsory alternative dispute resolution (ADR) is lawful and should be encouraged
CAFCASS has reached the upper limit of its capacity to take on cases, according to Sir Andrew McFarlane, President of the Family Division
An innovative mentoring project for the insurance claims sphere has been launched by law firm DAC Beachcroft (DACB) and global insurer, Markel Insurance
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
The Supreme Court has delivered a decisive ruling on termination under the JCT Design & Build form. Writing in NLJ this week, Andrew Singer KC and Jonathan Ward, of Kings Chambers, analyse Providence Building Services v Hexagon Housing Association [2026] UKSC 1, which restores the first-instance decision and curbs contractors’ termination rights for repeated late payment
Secondments, disciplinary procedures and appeal chaos all feature in a quartet of recent rulings. Writing in NLJ this week, Ian Smith, barrister and emeritus professor of employment law at UEA, examines how established principles are being tested in modern disputes
The AI revolution is no longer a distant murmur—it’s at the client’s desk. Writing in NLJ this week, Peter Ambrose, CEO of The Partnership and Legalito, warns that the ‘AI chickens’ have ‘come home to roost’, transforming not just legal practice but the lawyer–client relationship itself
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
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