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Court times

13 August 2020 / David Greene
Issue: 7899 / Categories: Opinion , Covid-19 , Profession , Constitutional law
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As we enter the summer break, David Greene predicts some challenging & uncertain times ahead for the court system

It would be fair to say that as we go into the summer break, if such a thing exists, firms are facing uncertainty in managing the return to the workplace and in the market conditions that will present when we all ‘return’ in the autumn. Many are predicting a tsunami of litigation with courts being overwhelmed just as they are dealing with the backlog of work developed in the lockdown. All this comes at a time of change in which London seeks to ensure it retains its foremost place at the world dispute resolution table. These are challenging and uncertain times.

Confusion

The government’s stance on the return to the workplace has been somewhat confusing, on the one hand encouragement but still against the guidance that continues to suggest we should all work from home if we can. 1 August brought in changes with greater encouragement to return to the office. But more

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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

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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
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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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