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23 March 2007 / Paul Clarke
Issue: 7265 / Categories: Features , Public , Legal services
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The end of God

Lawyers are maximising the opportunities presented by climate change, says Paul Clarke

Genesis tells us that God, having witnessed how evil man had become, determined to end all life on earth. The deluge that followed flooded the world. But Noah was a righteous man, blameless among his people, and was spared.

For centuries, lawyers have spoken of ‘acts of God’, which take many forms but He usually shows His presence in uncontrollable natural events, such as earthquake, fire or flood. Today, our planet faces a new threat, which resembles God’s handiwork. Climate change, however, bears the stamp of man.

It is the great issue of our time and it is changing the way we live our lives. Lawyers are clamouring to make the most of the opportunities presented by climate change.

Safety in numbers

No discussion of the future of climate change litigation would be complete without reference to multi-party litigation. Class actions are commonplace in the US and have levelled the playing field between business and individuals. A number of reasons

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MOVERS & SHAKERS

42BR Barristers—4 Brick Court

42BR Barristers—4 Brick Court

42BR Barristers to be joined by leading family law set, 4 Brick Court, this summer

Winckworth Sherwood—Rubianka Winspear

Winckworth Sherwood—Rubianka Winspear

Real estate and construction energy offering boosted by partner hire

Gateley Legal—Daniel Walsh

Gateley Legal—Daniel Walsh

Firm bolsters real estate team with partner hire in Birmingham

NEWS
A wave of housing and procedural reforms is set to test the limits of tribunal capacity. In his latest Civil Way column for NLJ this week, Stephen Gold charts sweeping change as the Renters’ Rights Act 2025 begins biting
Plans to reduce jury trials risk missing the real problem in the criminal justice system. Writing in NLJ this week, David Wolchover of Ridgeway Chambers argues the crown court backlog is fuelled not by juries but weak cases slipping through a flawed ‘50%’ prosecution test
Emerging technologies may soon transform how courts determine truth in deeply personal disputes. In this week's NLJ, Madhavi Kabra of 1 Hare Court and Harry Lambert of Outer Temple Chambers explore how neurotechnology could reshape family law
A controversial protest case has reignited debate over the limits of free expression. In NLJ this week, Nicholas Dobson examines a Quran-burning incident testing public order law
The courts have drawn a firm line under attempts to extend arbitration appeals. Writing in NLJ this week, Masood Ahmed of the University of Leicester highlights that if the High Court refuses permission under s 68 of the Arbitration Act 1996, that is the end
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