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AI enthusiast Birss at the helm

02 July 2025
Issue: 8123 / Categories: Legal News , Profession , Artificial intelligence
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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

Muckle LLP—Rachael Chapman

Muckle LLP—Rachael Chapman

Sports, education and charities practice welcomes senior associate

Ellisons—Carla Jones

Ellisons—Carla Jones

Partner and head of commercial litigation joins in Chelmsford

Freeths—Louise Mahon

Freeths—Louise Mahon

Firm strengthens Glasgow corporate practice with partner hire

NEWS
One in five in-house lawyers suffer ‘high’ or ‘severe’ work-related stress, according to a report by global legal body, the Association of Corporate Counsel (ACC)
The Legal Ombudsman’s (LeO’s) plea for a budget increase has been rejected by the Law Society and accepted only ‘with reluctance’ by conveyancers
Overcrowded prisons, mental health hospitals and immigration centres are failing to meet international and domestic human rights standards, the National Preventive Mechanism (NPM) has warned
Two speedier and more streamlined qualification routes have been launched for probate and conveyancing professionals
Workplace stress was a contributing factor in almost one in eight cases before the employment tribunal last year, indicating its endemic grip on the UK workplace
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