A recent article “Blowing in the wind” published in NLJ on 13 May 2016 (166 NLJ 7698 p 8) contained an inaccurate précis of Smith v Metropolitan University. The summary should have read: “Smith v London Metropolitan University [2011] IRLR 884, [2011] All ER (D) 19 (Sep) held that a university lecturer had not made protected disclosures under s 47 B (1) of ERA 1996 because grievances that she had raised about being asked to perform duties outside the scope of her contract, in the EAT’s opinion, disclosed no breach of a legal obligation (following Cavendish Munro) and in any event were not the reason for the dismissal. However, the EAT did hold that the ET had made an error in saying that the claimant was obliged to perform such duties.” Online versions have been updated to reflect this. With apologies and thanks to Dr Smith.
MOVERS & SHAKERS
Birketts—trainee cohort
Firm welcomes new cohort of 29 trainee solicitors for 2025
Keoghs—four appointments
Four partner hires expand legal expertise in Scotland and Northern Ireland
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
The Court of Protection has ruled in Macpherson v Sunderland City Council that capacity must be presumed unless clearly rebutted. In this week's NLJ, Sam Karim KC and Sophie Hurst of Kings Chambers dissect the judgment and set out practical guidance for advisers faced with issues relating to retrospective capacity and/or assessments without an examination
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
Charles Pigott of Mills & Reeve charts the turbulent progress of the Employment Rights Bill through the House of Lords, in this week's NLJ
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
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