THIS ISSUE
Discarded nitrous oxide (laughing gas) canisters are a familiar sight in towns and cities across the UK, but should the law on their use be changed?
The ‘failure to prevent’ fraud offence, now confirmed by the government, is big news for corporates.
Japanese knotweed is a plant on the rampage, scuppering property deals large and small and striking terror into the hearts of conveyancing professionals on a level akin to John Wyndham’s The Day of the Triffids.
Litigation funders have enjoyed a relatively easy regulatory ride so far, but are the good times coming to an end?
While nitrous oxide abuse is no joke, is criminalising the drug the right move? Dr Michael Harrison & Dr Olubunmi Onafuwa caution against a heavy-handed approach to the laughing gas problem
How can the civil law help victims of image-based sexual abuse? Zahra Awaiz-Bilal reports on a landmark decision of the High Court
With change finally on the horizon, Julia Petrenko & Ashpen Rajah outline the long overdue case for reforming the Landlord & Tenant Act 1954
The new ‘failure to prevent’ fraud criminal offence: Abigail Rushton & Rhys Novak set out the steps corporate bodies should be taking now to prepare
Is the current approach to delegated legislation undermining the constitutional balance between executive & legislature? Nick Wrightson discusses the need for greater oversight
David Walbank KC reports on anthropomorphism in court & the legal protections accorded to animals
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 dangers of uncritical artificial intelligence (AI) use in legal practice are no longer hypothetical. In this week's NLJ, Dr Charanjit Singh of Holborn Chambers examines cases where lawyers relied on ‘hallucinated’ citations — entirely fictitious authorities generated by AI tools
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
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