THIS ISSUE
Despite the next steps set out by the inquiry into child sexual abuse, the government response has been, for many, all talk & little action: Maryam Syed discusses the path forward for those who feel failed
The ping-pong match is finally over: Michael Zander KC reports on the final stages of the Retained EU Law Bill
Firms wondering whether to dip their toes into the world of generative AI will first need to prepare themselves: Alex Smith sets out key considerations to bear in mind before leaping in
"A second edition of this useful book may be needed before too long"
As events in the US bring classified documents out of the shadows, Athelstane Aamodt shines a light on government secrecy
Lawyers have been asked for their views on the extension to the fixed recoverable costs (FRC) regime on 1 October, including inquest costs and advocacy fees for cases that settle late.
The home secretary breached her duty to provide accommodation and support to meet the essential living needs of asylum seekers, the High Court has held.
Mediation is to be compulsory for civil claims worth up to £10,000, the Ministry of Justice (MoJ) has confirmed.
Seven in ten (72%) firms have not purchased cyber insurance amid a hardening professional indemnity cover market overall, research has shown.
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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