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03 June 2022 / Stephen Gold
Issue: 7981 / Categories: Features , Procedure & practice , Civil way
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Civil way: 3 June 2022

Defendants trapped on portal; Peppercorn menu; More abuse; The danger of trusting relatives

ELECROMONIA SPREADS

The damages claims portal marches on. As from 2 June 2022, the portal must be used by defendants who are legally represented for claims within its scope. That’s CPR Update 145 for you which also requires representatives to register with MyHMCTS so that they can do the business and access the portal and receive notifications of claim.



PEPPERCORNS BACK

Ground rents above a peppercorn (and they are pretty valueless, even when organically cultivated) are outlawed under residential leases at a premium for plus 21 years in England and Wales by dint of the Leasehold Reform (Ground Rent) Act 2022 which is intended to be commenced on 30 June 2022. Leases escape when granted before the commencement date or contracted for before that date, but the legislation will apply to a grant pursuant to a pre-commencement option or right of first refusal. For existing leaseholders entering into voluntary lease extensions after commencement, the extended portion of

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MOVERS & SHAKERS

NLJ Career Profile: Daniel Burbeary, Michelman Robinson

NLJ Career Profile: Daniel Burbeary, Michelman Robinson

Daniel Burbeary, office managing partner of Michelman Robinson, discusses launching in London, the power of the law, and what the kitchen can teach us about litigating

Joelson—Jennifer Mansoor

Joelson—Jennifer Mansoor

West End firm strengthens employment and immigration team with partner hire

Sidley—Jeremy Trinder

Sidley—Jeremy Trinder

Global finance group strengthened by returning partner in London

NEWS
A seemingly dry procedural update may prove potent. In his latest 'Civil way' column for NLJ this week, Stephen Gold explains that new CPR 31.12A—part of the 193rd update—fills a ‘lacuna’ exposed in McLaren Indy v Alpa Racing
The long-running Mazur saga edged towards its finale as the Court of Appeal heard arguments on whether non-solicitors can ‘conduct litigation’. Writing in NLJ this week, Professor Dominic Regan of City Law School reports from a packed courtroom where 16 wigs watched Nick Bacon KC argue that Mr Justice Sheldon had failed to distinguish between ‘tasks and responsibilities’

The Court of Appeal has slammed the brakes on claimants trying to swap defendants after limitation has expired. In Adcamp LLP v Office Properties and BDB Pitmans v Lee [2026] EWCA Civ 50, it overturned High Court rulings that had allowed substitutions under s 35(6)(b) of the Limitation Act 1980, reports Sarah Crowther of DAC Beachcroft in this week's NLJ

Cheating in driving tests is surging—and courts are responding firmly. Writing in NLJ this week, Neil Parpworth of De Montfort Law School charts a rise in impersonation and tech-assisted fraud, with 2,844 attempts recorded in a year
As AI-generated ‘deepfake’ images proliferate, the law may already have the tools to respond. In NLJ this week, Jon Belcher of Excello Law argues that such images amount to personal data processing under UK GDPR
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