THIS ISSUE
Post-Kumar, Bryan Clark considers the use of legal representation within mediation when individuals are pitted against institutions
A recent cinema release has shed light on the working conditions of those living within the gig economy—and is a powerful reminder of the issues they face, says Charles Pigott
David Burrows laments the opportunities missed in the Civil Justice Council’s recent report on compulsory ADR
Vijay Ganapathy considers the future significance of recent cases in tort on foreseeability, quantum & withdrawal of Part 36 offers
Athelstane Aamodt traces the 800-year history of the inquest—as important now as it ever was
Possession: the impossible dream?; CPR 133rd update; Port alerts get Mostyn boost; Contact activity drafting; Official Solicitor guides
The worldwide profusion of human rights abuses cries out for law enforcement, but still governments fail to act: Geoffrey Bindman reports
Veronica Cowan reports on lawyers who turn detective to investigate fraud claims
Catherine Taskis QC & Anthony Tanney examine some conflicting decisions on rent-free periods in business lease renewals
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
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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