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14 June 2024 / Simon Cohen
Issue: 8075 / Categories: Features , Profession , Technology , Jurisdiction , Career focus
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Digital nerve centre

The common law gives England & Wales the flexibility to be a technology hub—and the draft digital assets Bill reinforces that, writes Simon Cohen
  • The Law Commission is seeking to cement England and Wales as the leading jurisdiction for digital assets law and disputes.
  • The draft Property (Digital Assets etc) Bill would put a third category of personal property on a statutory footing.

Steeped in history (English legal memory began in 1189) and always forward-looking, English common law has repeatedly proven itself permissive, adaptable, commercially minded and—crucially—certain.

These are the reasons why common law systems across the world (all of which have their origins in English law) have the advantage over the fixed and rigid (some might argue sclerotic) codified systems of law that are prevalent in, among other places, continental Europe. It is the reason why entrepreneurs and businesses with no connection with Britain, and whose arrangements may have little to no nexus with these shores, repeatedly choose to have their commercial agreements governed by English law and

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MOVERS & SHAKERS

Jurit LLP—Caroline Williams

Jurit LLP—Caroline Williams

Private wealth and tax team welcomes cross-border specialist as consultant

HFW—Simon Petch

HFW—Simon Petch

Global shipping practice expands with experienced ship finance partner hire

Freeths—Richard Lockhart

Freeths—Richard Lockhart

Infrastructure specialist joins as partner in Glasgow office

NEWS
Talk of a reserved ‘Welsh seat’ on the Supreme Court is misplaced. In NLJ this week, Professor Graham Zellick KC explains that the Constitutional Reform Act treats ‘England and Wales’ as one jurisdiction, with no statutory Welsh slot
The government’s plan to curb jury trials has sparked ‘jury furore’. Writing in NLJ this week, David Locke, partner at Hill Dickinson, says the rationale is ‘grossly inadequate’
A year after the $1.5bn Bybit heist, crypto fraud is booming—but so is recovery. Writing in NLJ this week, Neil Holloway, founder and CEO of M2 Recovery, warns that scams hit at least $14bn in 2025, fuelled by ‘pig butchering’ cons and AI deepfakes
After Woodcock confirmed no general duty to warn, debate turns to the criminal law. Writing in NLJ this week, Charles Davey of The Barrister Group urges revival of misprision or a modern equivalent
Family courts are tightening control of expert evidence. Writing in NLJ this week, Dr Chris Pamplin says there is ‘no automatic right’ to call experts; attendance must be ‘necessary in the interests of justice’ under FPR Pt 25
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