header-logo header-logo

18 March 2022 / Stephen Gold
Issue: 7971 / Categories: Features , Procedure & practice , Civil way
printer mail-detail

Civil way: 18 March 2022

Divorce: now or next month? CPR treatment

FREEDOM FROM BLAME

If the Divorce, Dissolution and Separation Act 2020 (see Civil way, NLJ 15 January 2021, p19, 4 February 2022, p19 and David Burrows, NLJ 4 March 2022, p13) has not been ‘commenced’ to come into force on 6 April 2022 by the time you end the next page, then I am a large bunch of deteriorating bananas. The primary legislation is now supported by the amended FPR (which will require a small drafting correction) and amended PDs and, in the pipeline, a PD covering the pilot digital system due for publication around 1 April 2022 and presidential costs guidance along with the possibility of presidential guidance on practice generally. The MoJ has produced an information pack obtainable from HMCTS.communications@justice.gov.uk and HMCTS’s service centre is opening later to deal with the knottiest divorce (and probate) queries customers can create on Tuesdays and Thursdays (8am to 8pm) and Saturdays (8am to 2pm) which runs the risk of a few relationship breakdowns for condemned

If you are not a subscriber, subscribe now to read this content
If you are already a subscriber sign in
...or Register for two weeks' free access to subscriber content

MOVERS & SHAKERS

NLJ Career Profile: Ken Fowlie, Stowe Family Law

NLJ Career Profile: Ken Fowlie, Stowe Family Law

Ken Fowlie, chairman of Stowe Family Law, reflects on more than 30 years in legal services after ‘falling into law’

Gardner Leader—Michelle Morgan & Catherine Morris

Gardner Leader—Michelle Morgan & Catherine Morris

Regional law firm expands employment team with partner and senior associate hires

Freeths—Carly Harwood & Tom Newton

Freeths—Carly Harwood & Tom Newton

Nottinghamtrusts, estates and tax team welcomes two senior associates

NEWS
Children can claim for ‘lost years’ damages in personal injury cases, the Supreme Court has held in a landmark judgment
The cab-rank rule remains a bulwark of the rule of law, yet lawyers are increasingly judged by their clients’ causes. Writing in NLJ this week, Ian McDougall, president of the LexisNexis Rule of Law Foundation, warns that conflating representation with endorsement is a ‘clear and present danger’
Holiday lets may promise easy returns, but restrictive covenants can swiftly scupper plans. Writing in NLJ this week, Andrew Francis of Serle Court recounts how covenants limiting use to a ‘private dwelling house’ or ‘private residence’ have repeatedly defeated short-term letting schemes
Artificial intelligence (AI) is already embedded in the civil courts, but regulation lags behind practice. Writing in NLJ this week, Ben Roe of Baker McKenzie charts a landscape where AI assists with transcription, case management and document handling, yet raises acute concerns over evidence, advocacy and even judgment-writing
The Supreme Court has drawn a firm line under branding creativity in regulated markets. In Dairy UK Ltd v Oatly AB, it ruled that Oatly’s ‘post-milk generation’ trade mark unlawfully deployed a protected dairy designation. In NLJ this week, Asima Rana of DWF explains that the court prioritised ‘regulatory clarity over creative branding choices’, holding that ‘designation’ extends beyond product names to marketing slogans
back-to-top-scroll