THIS ISSUE
How will artificial intelligence (AI) affect litigation and disputes? Could it improve access to justice? Bring costs down? To what extent and in what areas will it speed the preparation process up? In this week’s NLJ, Eimear McCann, commercial director at TrialView, looks at the range of uses of AI in disputes and considers how this might develop in future.
The horrifying case of Andrew Malkinson, who spent 17 years in prison for a crime he did not commit, is not a one-off or an aberration, NLJ columnist Jon Robins writes in his column this week. Instead, it’s part of a wider systemic problem.
Fixed recoverable costs (FRC) is the issue du jour, with the new regime due to begin on 1 October. In this week’s NLJ, Liam Tolen, senior associate at Ashfords, looks at FRC from an in-house perspective. What do general counsel and in-house legal teams need to know, are there any benefits, how will it affect settlements, and how can they prepare?
The decade-long existence of ‘reckless falsity’ in the context of contempt of court has been rejected by the Court of Appeal. In this week’s NLJ, Sam Thomas, Manon Huckle, Oliver Cooke & Richard Marshall discuss the case of Norman and another v Adler and another and its implications for future contempt cases.
With less than two weeks to go before the extension of fixed recoverable costs (FRC), costs lawyers have urged a six-month delay on the basis the current plans are ‘piecemeal and unreasonable’.
The Sentencing Council has published its response to the recommendations of the Domestic Homicide Sentencing Review, led by Clare Wade KC.
The Ministry of Justice (MoJ) has said that it will not be recommending a policy position or deciding on whether a dual/multiple PIDR should be introduced at this time.
Lord Burnett, the Lord Chief Justice, has sung the praises of cameras in court in his final speech in office.
The Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) has finally apologised to Marcia Rigg for failings in its misconduct investigations into the death of her brother, Sean Rigg at Brixton police station in 2008.
Law Society diversity access scheme (DAS) scholarships have been awarded to 14 aspiring solicitors.
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 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
A Competition Appeal Tribunal (CAT) ruling has reopened debate on the availability of ‘user damages’ in competition claims. Writing in NLJ this week, Edward Nyman of Hausfeld explains how the CAT allowed Dr Liza Lovdahl Gormsen’s alternative damages case against Meta to proceed, rejecting arguments that such damages are barred in competition law
Copyright © 2026 LexisNexis
