Roger Smith
Roger Smith, NLJ columnist & former director of JUSTICE. Newlawjournal.co.uk
The General Council of the Bar has publicised the possibility of litigation against the government and the Legal Services Commission.
No less than 12 judges were assembled in the Court of Appeal (five) and the Supreme Court (seven) to deal with the thorny questions raised in R v Horncastle [2009] UKSC 14. You do not get this array of legal talent without a reason.
David Cameron made a fool of himself in his ill-fated attack on “elf and safety”. He got caught out citing as true a “myth” identified on the health and safety executive’s own website. Senior Tories are rallying to his aid to bolster his somewhat similar attack on the Human Rights Act 1998 (HRA 1998).
Let us remember the names of the reviewers and researchers of legal aid since 1997: Sir Peter Middleton, Frontier Economics, Matrix Consultancy, Lord Carter of Coles, the (hapless) in-house Fundamental team and now Sir Ian McGhee. As Labour came into office, it asked a retired banker what to do. As it seemed likely to leave, it asked a former civil servant the same question.
On the very day that the spanking new Supreme Court opened for business, legal tradition reasserted itself. Over the flagstones that had witnessed the trial of Charles I in Westminster Hall walked the elite of the legal world as they made their way to lunch after the traditional service for the opening of the legal year.
Roger Smith looks across the Pond to consider gender & ethnic minorities
Roger Smith on the rights & wrongs of human rights
Roger Smith stands up for transparency
MOVERS & SHAKERS
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Daniel Burbeary, office managing partner of Michelman Robinson, discusses launching in London, the power of the law, and what the kitchen can teach us about litigating
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West End firm strengthens employment and immigration team with partner hire
JMW—Belinda Brooke
Employment and people solutions offering boosted by partner hire
The Court of Appeal has slammed the brakes on claimants trying to swap defendants after limitation has expired. In Adcamp LLP v Office Properties and BDB Pitmans v Lee [2026] EWCA Civ 50, it overturned High Court rulings that had allowed substitutions under s 35(6)(b) of the Limitation Act 1980, reports Sarah Crowther of DAC Beachcroft in this week's NLJ
