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24 October 2025 / Grania Langdon-Down
Issue: 8136 / Categories: Features , Profession , In Court
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Leading from the front: The Right Honourable Sir Julian Flaux

In a candid and reflective interview with NLJ, Sir Julian Flaux, Chancellor of the High Court, looks back on more than four decades in law—first as a leading light at the Commercial Bar and then as one of the senior judiciary’s most respected figures. 

As he prepares to step down as Chancellor, he shares his insights on the challenges and triumphs of leading the Business and Property Courts through some of the most testing periods in recent memory, and on why morale, mentorship and balance matter most

After nearly five years as one of the most senior judges in England and Wales, Sir Julian Flaux retires from his role as Chancellor of the High Court at the end of October. He hands the baton on to Lord Justice Colin Birss at a time when the Business and Property Courts, including the Commercial Court, are busier than ever, scotching fears that Brexit would see work going to rival jurisdictions.

A recent Law Society report showed the London

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MOVERS & SHAKERS

Harneys—Maggie Kwok & George Weston

Harneys—Maggie Kwok & George Weston

Harneys senior leadership appointments

Freeths—Keith Browne & Jim Jordan

Freeths—Keith Browne & Jim Jordan

Freeths strengthens London Construction and Engineering practice with two strategic senior hires

Anthony Collins—Laura Moss

Anthony Collins—Laura Moss

Anthony Collins announces strategic hire to deepen skills base in the social business sector

NEWS
More than 100 teams from the legal and financial services sectors competed in five sports at the 51st Law Society RFC Festival of Sport earlier this month
Part-time status need only be an effective cause of less favourable treatment, rather than the sole cause, the Supreme Court has held in Augustine v Data Cars
Britain’s new acknowledgement that Israel’s occupation is unlawful, and accompanying settlement-goods ban and sanctions, is significant but overdue, argue Danny Friedman KC and Victor Kattan in NLJ this week
New planning fee rises, wider trade union access rights and a service-by-email trap feature in Stephen Gold’s latest Civil Way
Existing defamation law can respond to AI ‘hallucinations’, but allocating responsibility will prove harder where outputs reach users without human intervention
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