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27 October 2020 / Stephen Gold
Issue: 7908 / Categories: Features , Procedure & practice , Civil way
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Civil way: 30 October 2020

Double whammy in Family; Time to forfeit; Cannibalism at GRO; Probate Overridden; Low-value highs

BREXIT & COVID A LA MOSTYN J

The double whammy of these two horrors has been addressed by Mostyn J in the first reported case on their impact on a company’s value in OG v AG [2020] EWFC 52. In focus was a company providing ducting to a wide range of customers in construction, transportation and other industries. A significant proportion of the trading business was with the EU and if there was no deal, the free trade tariff on which the company operated would end. The company had already experienced a significant decrease in demand. The single joint company valuation expert advised that a Brexit/Covid-19 discount was appropriate but declined to hazard a figure. The wife argued for 10% to be applied not only to the trading element of the valuation but the surplus assets of cash and quoted investments as well. The judge applied 10% on the trading element only. He held that there was

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MOVERS & SHAKERS

Clarke Willmott—Matthew Roach

Clarke Willmott—Matthew Roach

Partner joins commercial property team in Taunton office

Farrer & Co—Richard Lane

Farrer & Co—Richard Lane

Londstanding London firm appoints new senior partner

Bird & Bird—Sue McLean

Bird & Bird—Sue McLean

Commercial team in London welcomes technology specialist as partner

NEWS
The legal profession’s claim to be a ‘guardian of fairness’ is under scrutiny after stark findings on gender imbalance and opaque progression. Writing in NLJ this week, Joshua Purser of No5 Barristers’ Chambers and Govindi Deerasinghe of Global 50/50 warn that leadership remains dominated by a narrow elite, with men holding 71% of top court roles
A legal challenge to police disclosure rules has failed, reinforcing a push for transparency in policing. In NLJ this week, Neil Parpworth examines a case where the Metropolitan Police required officers to declare membership of groups like the Freemasons
Bereavement leave is undergoing a quiet but profound transformation. Writing in NLJ this week, Robert Hargreaves of York St John University explains how the Employment Rights Act 2025 introduces a day-one right to leave for a wider range of losses, alongside new provisions for pregnancy loss and bereaved partners
Courts are beginning to grapple with whether AI-generated material is legally privileged—and the answers are mixed. In this week's issue of NLJ, Stacie Bourton, Tom Whittaker & Beata Kolodziej of Burges Salmon examine US rulings showing how easily privilege can be lost
New guidance seeks to bring order to the growing use of artificial intelligence (AI) in expert evidence. Writing in NLJ this week, Minesh Tanna and David Bridge of Simmons & Simmons set out a framework stressing ‘transparency’, ‘explainability’ and ‘reliability’
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