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02 July 2025
Issue: 8123 / Categories: Legal News , Profession , Artificial intelligence
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AI enthusiast Birss at the helm

Lord Justice Colin Birss will be the next Chancellor of the High Court, with day-to-day responsibility for the business and property courts

Birss LJ was called to the Bar in 1990, took Silk in 2008 and specialised in intellectual property cases at chambers Three New Square. He is a former deputy chairman of the Copyright Tribunal, was appointed a High Court judge in the Chancery Division in 2013, and a Lord Justice in 2021.

Currently, he is the deputy head of civil justice and lead judge for artificial intelligence, and two years ago he became the first UK judge to admit using ChatGPT to write part of a judgment.

He replaces current Chancellor Sir Julian Flaux, who is retiring, in November.

Six judges have been approved for appointment as Lord and Lady Justices of Appeal—Mrs Justice Cockerill, Mr Justice Dove, Mr Justice Foxton, Mrs Justice May, Mr Justice Miles and Mrs Justice Yip.

MOVERS & SHAKERS

Sackers—Zak Ullah

Sackers—Zak Ullah

Sackers welcomes new associate

Christy Davies—Birmingham Law Society

Christy Davies—Birmingham Law Society

Ward Hadaway lawyer joins Birmingham Law Society Council

Ellisons—Stephanie Westwood & Anisa Khan

Ellisons—Stephanie Westwood & Anisa Khan

Ellisons expands Chelmsford commercial litigation team with two appointments

NEWS
Construction workers injured in comparable accidents can face sharply different routes to compensation on opposite sides of the Atlantic
Victims of undue influence may have more options than simply unwinding a tainted transaction, with courts able to order profits accounts, compensation and, exceptionally, severance
Disabled people could lose vital safeguards following the Supreme Court’s reversal of the Cheshire West test for deprivation of liberty, two barristers warn
A formidable reputation cannot protect a law firm when partner departures, fragile finances and client uncertainty begin feeding each other
Businesses incorporating open-source software into commercial products could face obligations to disclose valuable source code, with AI-assisted development making licensing risks harder to track
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