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23 June 2023 / David Walbank KC
Issue: 8030 / Categories: Features , Criminal , Property , Judicial review
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Crime brief: 23 June 2023

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Thus far, arguably the most significant output of the HS2 project has been a stream of litigation: David Walbank KC charts the path to judicial review
  • HS2 protesters tunnelling under Euston Square Gardens.
  • Offence of aggravated trespass.
  • Scope of the ‘lawful activity’ being obstructed or disrupted.

The economic benefits of the high-speed railway HS2 may sometimes seem illusory. Nebulous phrases like ‘connectivity’, ‘capacity’ and, dare I say it, ‘levelling up’ are bandied about, while a hard-headed costs/benefits analysis is harder to come by and grows ever more elusive as project costs continue to spiral. Only history will judge whether this state-of-the-art high-speed rail link, supposedly bringing London and the North of England closer together, is ultimately seen as a marvel of modern engineering or the biggest white elephant ever to burn through our increasingly straitened public finances. However, one identifiable sub-class of our fellow citizens that it has undoubtedly benefited is the criminal lawyer. Rarely has any major construction project given rise to such

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A sprawling Intellectual Property Office battle between House of Fraser and Frasers Property has delivered a masterclass in modern trade mark law
Courts in England and Wales and Singapore are increasingly confronting complex disputes over international child relocation as families become more globally mobile
The government’s long-awaited family law reform consultation could mark a turning point for domestic abuse victims navigating financial remedy proceedings, but significant challenges remain
A new commercial court pilot giving the public access to documents used in hearings, including expert reports, is raising difficult questions about transparency and privacy
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