header-logo header-logo

10 June 2019
Categories: Legal News , Profession , Criminal
printer mail-detail

Barristers vote for walkout

Criminal barristers have voted overwhelmingly in favour of action to protest low fees

The Criminal Bar Association (CBA) held a ballot of members on its proposals for a ‘whole profession walkout’ on 1 July, and for prosecution and defence barristers to refuse returns from 1 July. Barristers say they can receive as little as £46.50 for a day in court.

Some 2,586 of 2,725 barristers (94.9%) voted in favour of the CBA’s proposal for action now in respect of prosecution fees.

And 2,567 of 2,735 barristers (93.9%) voted for the CBA’s proposed action now in respect of the Advocates’ Graduated Fee Scheme (AGFS).

CBA chair Chris Henley QC and vice-chair Caroline Goodwin QC said in a message on the CBA website: ‘Your message is very clear. Your engagement has been overwhelming.

‘In the background a great deal of activity has been going on. There has been very constructive engagement with the government and CPS on an almost daily basis for several weeks.’

Categories: Legal News , Profession , Criminal
printer mail-details

MOVERS & SHAKERS

Kennedys—Milan Devani

Kennedys—Milan Devani

Chief information officer appointment strengthens technology leadership

Maguire Family Law—Hannah Barlow & Sophie Hughes

Maguire Family Law—Hannah Barlow & Sophie Hughes

Firm strengthens Wilmslow team with two solicitor appointments

DWF—Ian Plumley

DWF—Ian Plumley

Londoninsurance and reinsurance practice announces partner appointment

NEWS
The Supreme Court has delivered a decisive ruling on termination under the JCT Design & Build form. Writing in NLJ this week, Andrew Singer KC and Jonathan Ward, of Kings Chambers, analyse Providence Building Services v Hexagon Housing Association [2026] UKSC 1, which restores the first-instance decision and curbs contractors’ termination rights for repeated late payment
Secondments, disciplinary procedures and appeal chaos all feature in a quartet of recent rulings. Writing in NLJ this week, Ian Smith, barrister and emeritus professor of employment law at UEA, examines how established principles are being tested in modern disputes
The AI revolution is no longer a distant murmur—it’s at the client’s desk. Writing in NLJ this week, Peter Ambrose, CEO of The Partnership and Legalito, warns that the ‘AI chickens’ have ‘come home to roost’, transforming not just legal practice but the lawyer–client relationship itself
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
back-to-top-scroll