THIS ISSUE
The Lucy Letby case, the former neonatal nurse convicted of murdering seven babies and attempting to kill a further six, was shocking. But was Letby guilty? Some people think not.
He may have hit the ground running at speed, but what will Keir Starmer, lawyer, really be like as prime minister?
Hague 19 entered into force in the UK on 1 July. Writing in this week’s NLJ, Chris Deacon, international injury partner, Stewarts, examines its benefits and limitations
Family lawyers have raised serious concerns about the Suspected Inflicted Head Injury Service (SIHIS)
The Suspected Inflicted Head Injury Service could be in breach of Art 6 & 8 rights, argues Max Konarek
Property lawyers disputing the controversial TA6 form have lost their vote of no confidence challenge to the Law Society
The financial redress scheme for postmasters convicted as a result of the flawed Horizon IT system has launched
The legal services sector generated turnover of £47.5bn in the UK in 2023, according to the Legal Services Board (LSB) annual report
The Association of Costs Lawyers (ACL) is introducing two professional titles for its members
A legal challenge to restrictions on puberty blockers has been unsuccessful
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
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
Recent allegations surrounding Peter Mandelson and Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor have reignited scrutiny of the ancient common law offence of misconduct in public office. Writing in NLJ this week, Simon Parsons, teaching fellow at Bath Spa University, asks whether their conduct could clear a notoriously high legal hurdle
A landmark ruling has reshaped child clinical negligence claims. Writing in NLJ this week, Jodi Newton, head of birth and paediatric negligence at Osbornes Law, explains how the Supreme Court in CCC v Sheffield Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust [2026] UKSC 5 has overturned Croke v Wiseman, ending the long-standing bar on children recovering ‘lost years’ earnings
A Court of Appeal ruling has drawn a firm line under party autonomy in arbitration. Writing in NLJ this week, Masood Ahmed, associate professor at the University of Leicester, analyses Gluck v Endzweig [2026] EWCA Civ 145, where a clause allowing arbitrators to amend an award ‘at any time’ was held incompatible with the Arbitration Act 1996
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