THIS ISSUE
Judgment debtors hit for VAT; Success fee through back door; Divorce reform latest; Document redaction OK? Service charge battle; Mercy for Personal Reps
When the Bar Pro Bono Unit, now known as Advocate, was set up 25 years ago it immediately recognised the value of celebrating its barristers and publicising pro bono by handing out an award every year
Hugh Johnson & Miriam Spencer weigh up the current system of litigating against the NHS: is root-and-branch reform the answer?
Charlotte Bijlani and Soraya Corm-Bakhos chart the arbitration landscape in Dubai and the changes made by Decree 34
Lack of diversity on the bench has persisted despite the best efforts of legislators & the legal profession: Geoffrey Bindman asks what more can be done
In the first of a two-part series, Kim Beatson & Victoria Brown provide an expert guide to split hearings
Get me out of here! In his end of year address, Ian Smith navigates a series of obstacles & challenges including notification, blacklisting, reconsideration, anonymisation & postponements
Former District Judge Stephen Gold puts the Christmas tree decorating to one side and surveys the latest legal developments in Civil Way this week, covering the enforcement of debts, or rather who pays the fees for it, as well as the question of success fees in an inheritance battle
Lack of diversity in the judiciary is an issue that has persisted despite the efforts of legislators and the legal profession. Writing in this week’s NLJ, Geoffrey Bindman asks what more can be done
MOVERS & SHAKERS
Freeths—Ruth Clare
National real estate team bolstered by partner hire in Manchester
Farrer & Co—Claire Gordon
Partner appointed head of family team
mfg Solicitors—Neil Harrison
Firm strengthens agriculture and rural affairs team with partner return
NEWS
Conveyancing lawyers have enjoyed a rapid win after campaigning against UK Finance’s decision to charge for access to the Mortgage Lenders’ Handbook
The Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) has launched a recruitment drive for talented early career and more senior barristers and solicitors
Regulators differed in the clarity and consistency of their post-Mazur advice and guidance, according to an interim report by the Legal Services Board (LSB)
The Solicitors Act 1974 may still underpin legal regulation, but its age is increasingly showing. Writing in NLJ this week, Victoria Morrison-Hughes of the Association of Costs Lawyers argues that the Act is ‘out of step with modern consumer law’ and actively deters fairness
A Competition Appeal Tribunal (CAT) ruling has reopened debate on the availability of ‘user damages’ in competition claims. Writing in NLJ this week, Edward Nyman of Hausfeld explains how the CAT allowed Dr Liza Lovdahl Gormsen’s alternative damages case against Meta to proceed, rejecting arguments that such damages are barred in competition law
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