THIS ISSUE
The Supreme Court decision in Barton v Morris is a landmark case on the interaction between the law of unjust enrichment and the law of contract.
Could chatbots open up access to justice? NLJ columnist and former Justice director Roger Smith puts ChatGPT to the test in this week’s issue.
The personal injury discount rate, which is used by judges when calculating damages, is up for its five-year review next year, writes Julian Chamberlayne, in this week’s NLJ.
Could seized sanctions assets be used to fund the reconstruction of Ukraine? It’s a fascinating question.
We should seize the opportunities presented by new models of artificial intelligence to improve the provision of legal advice, says Roger Smith
Kate Temple-Mabe explains the importance of securing compensation for victims of trafficking—and the creative approach needed to do so
Barton v Morris: Sarah Allan & Chris Ward consider the Supreme Court’s reminder that ‘unjust enrichment mends no-one’s bargain’
Maria Nizzero sets out the complexities of possibly using seized sanctions assets to fund reconstruction in Ukraine
How much change will the fire & rehire code deliver? Charles Pigott assesses the government’s draft code of practice
David Walbank KC examines the relevance of gender identity within the context of extradition requests
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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