THIS ISSUE
The meaning of what exactly constitutes a ‘reserved legal activity’ is becoming increasingly hard to define, says John Gould
Common law under attack? Ian Smith reports on the latest cases from the Court of Appeal & a particularly busy spell for Lord Justice Bean & Lady Justice Simler
Covid rent; Damp pays; Heavy breathing; New court; Acting for both sides; Permission for absence
David Walbank QC examines a tragic case which underlines the polycentric decision-making process for offences involving young persons
It’s not all dodgy claims & disappointing descriptions: Dominic Regan outlines some reasons to be (cautiously) cheerful this summer
Roderick Ramage explains how George Coode’s tract On Legislative Expression enables reverse engineering to unlock the meaning of unclear legislation
Vaiben Lipman highlights the benefits of pro bono practice for boutique disputes firms
Collaboration, confidence, skills development and the chance to have a meaningful impact—pro bono has many benefits, says Joy-Emma Martin
What is a reserved legal activity? The answer, writes John Gould, senior partner, Russell-Cooke, in this week’s NLJ, is increasingly hard to define
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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