THIS ISSUE
How much of a concern is the government’s Judicial Review and Courts Bill? Some people expected worse. Others think the Bill is a big enough threat as it is
It was viewed as government retaliation for various judicial decisions in recent years, and was ‘awaited with trepidation’ but ‘far from revolutionary’ when it arrived
It’s wedding season and loved-up couples around the country are busy organising COVID-compliant ceremonies and celebrations
A change in the wording of equality legislation has not altered the burden of proof in discrimination claims, the Supreme Court has unanimously held
The Supreme Court has called on Parliament to address a ‘serious lacuna’ in the law on solicitors' undertakings, in a case concerning rival law firms involved in the Volkswagen emissions legal action
MPs have called for ‘urgent’ reform to civil and criminal legal aid, in a Justice Committee report
The Lord Chancellor, Robert Buckland has called for more CILEX (Chartered institute of Legal Executives) judges
The majority of law firms are making increasing use of technology, although funding and scalability issues mean the development of bespoke tech is mainly aimed at helping large corporate clients, an Oxford University study into innovation in lawtech has found
Some 60 Crown Court rooms will reopen by September, while 32 Nightingale Court rooms will have their leases extended to April 2022 to tackle the backlog of cases, the Lord Chancellor, Robert Buckland has announced
The government has introduced its Judicial review and Courts Bill to parliament, to widespread dismay among lawyers
MOVERS & SHAKERS
Bellevue Law—Lianne Craig
Workplace law firm expands commercial disputes team with senior consultant hire
EIP—Rob Barker
IP firm promotes patent attorney to partner
Muckle LLP—Ryan Butler
Banking and restructuring team bolstered by insolvency specialist
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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