More divorcing couples are taking their argument to court, and Brexit may be partly to blame. In 2017–18, the numbers rose 13% to 4,120, the highest in the past decade, according to law firm Wilsons Solicitors. This is because of heightened financial stress in the economy and the impact of Brexit uncertainty on property prices and job security, the firm says. Wilsons partner Jacqueline Fitzgerald said: ‘Divorcing couples are more willing to fight over money if they think they will potentially be less well off in the future.’ Moreover, neither side had legal representation in 45% of these hearings last year.
13 February 2019
Divorce: the Brexit effect
MOVERS & SHAKERS
Haynes Boone—Jeremy Cross
Firm strengthens global fund finance practice with London partner hire.
DWF—Stephen Webb
Partner and head of national planning team appointed
mfg Solicitors—Nick Little
Corporate team expands in Birmingham with partner hire
NEWS
Contract damages are usually assessed at the date of breach—but not always. Writing in NLJ this week, Ian Gascoigne, knowledge lawyer at LexisNexis, examines the growing body of cases where courts have allowed later events to reshape compensation
The Supreme Court has restored ‘doctrinal coherence’ to unfair prejudice litigation, writes Natalie Quinlivan, partner at Fieldfisher LLP, in this week' NLJ
The High Court’s refusal to recognise a prolific sperm donor as a child’s legal parent has highlighted the risks of informal conception arrangements, according to Liam Hurren, associate at Kingsley Napley, in NLJ this week
The Court of Appeal’s decision in Mazur may have settled questions around litigation supervision, but the profession should not simply ‘move on’, argues Jennifer Coupland, CEO of CILEX, in this week's NLJ
A simple phrase like ‘subject to references’ may not protect employers as much as they think. Writing in NLJ this week, Ian Smith, barrister and emeritus professor of employment law at UEA, analyses recent employment cases showing how conditional job offers can still create binding contracts
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