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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

Birketts—trainee cohort

Birketts—trainee cohort

Firm welcomes new cohort of 29 trainee solicitors for 2025

Keoghs—four appointments

Keoghs—four appointments

Four partner hires expand legal expertise in Scotland and Northern Ireland

Brabners—Ben Lamb

Brabners—Ben Lamb

Real estate team in Yorkshire welcomes new partner

NEWS
Robert Taylor of 360 Law Services warns in this week's NLJ that adoption of artificial intelligence (AI) risks entrenching disadvantage for SME law firms, unless tools are tailored to their needs
From oligarchs to cosmetic clinics, strategic lawsuits against public participation (SLAPPs) target journalists, activists and ordinary citizens with intimidating legal tactics. Writing in NLJ this week, Sadie Whittam of Lancaster University explores the weaponisation of litigation to silence critics
Delays and dysfunction continue to mount in the county court, as revealed in a scathing Justice Committee report and under discussion this week by NLJ columnist Professor Dominic Regan of City Law School. Bulk claims—especially from private parking firms—are overwhelming the system, with 8,000 cases filed weekly
Writing in NLJ this week, Thomas Rothwell and Kavish Shah of Falcon Chambers unpack the surprise inclusion of a ban on upwards-only rent reviews in the English Devolution and Community Empowerment Bill
Charles Pigott of Mills & Reeve charts the turbulent progress of the Employment Rights Bill through the House of Lords, in this week's NLJ
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