THIS ISSUE
David Pickstone, Darren Kidd & Alexander Lerner examine some positive signs for CPR 19.6 & the future of collective proceedings in England and Wales
Veronica Cowan looks at a recent decision on the weed that never dies
The right to be treated justly belongs to everyone: Geoffrey Bindman KC questions whether the current government has forgotten this in its attitude to human rights
Is the absence of regulation enjoyed by litigation funders coming to an end? David Greene examines the ever-closer attention of regulators worldwide
Lawyers have urged Alex Chalk to prioritise action to tackle the ailing justice system in his new role as Lord Chancellor.
Law firms should be alert to ‘greenwashing’ risks, and should not describe themselves as ‘sustainable’ unless partners are confident this claim can stand up to external scrutiny.
Nearly nine in ten Britons believe it is important their MP votes to uphold the rule of law, a YouGov poll has found.
No formal enforcement action will be taken against the Chartered Institute of Legal Executives (CILEX) and CILEx Regulation Limited (CRL), the Legal Services Board (LSB) has concluded after investigating a dispute between the two.
Legal professionals have been invited to share their views on the Data Protection and Digital Information (No 2) Bill.
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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