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Constitutional law

27 January 2017
Issue: 7731 / Categories: Case law , Law digest , In Court
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Belhaj and another v Straw and others; Rahmatullah (No 1) v Ministry of Defence and another [2017] UKSC 3, [2017] All ER (D) 45 (Jan)

The Supreme Court unanimously dismissed the appellant UK officials’ appeals in proceedings concerning their alleged complicity in various torts, allegedly committed by various other states in various overseas jurisdictions against the respondents. The torts alleged included the unlawful detention and rendition, torture or cruel and inhuman treatment and assault. In the circumstances, the appellants were not entitled to rely on state immunity or the doctrine of foreign act of state to defeat the respondents’ claims. Accordingly, the respondents’ cases would proceed to trial.

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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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