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28 November 2025 / Kerry Jack , Justin Penrose
Issue: 8141 / Categories: Features , Media , Profession , Marketing
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Making the headlines (Pt 2)

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Journalists want legal commentators who are punchy, pithy & don’t sit on the fence, write Kerry Jack & Justin Penrose

When it comes to legal commentators, it’s common to see the same lawyers appearing regularly in the media.

It may not be immediately obvious why or how some lawyers become the go-to legal commentators in their practice area. Yet with focused effort, most lawyers can establish themselves as trusted media experts.

What journalists need

When a story breaks and a reporter needs reaction, or if they need an expert to comment on a story they are working on, they will do one of four things. First, they will look on the news wires such as the Press Association for good comments that slip into their story seamlessly.

Secondly, they keep an eye on their emails for decent and timely reactive comments. Failing that, they contact legal PR agencies who have access to multiple lawyers across various firms. Finally, they search Google for any lawyers who had

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MOVERS & SHAKERS

NLJ Career Profile: John McElroy, London Solicitors Litigation Association

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From first-generation student to trailblazing president of the London Solicitors Litigation Association, John McElroy of Fieldfisher reflects on resilience, identity and the power of bringing your whole self to the law

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Birketts—Barbara Hamilton-Bruce

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Firm appoints chief operating officer to strengthen leadership team

NEWS
A landmark Supreme Court ruling has underscored the sweeping reach of UK sanctions. In NLJ this week, Brónagh Adams and Harriet Campbell of Penningtons Manches Cooper say the regime is a ‘blunt instrument’ requiring only a factual, not causal, link to restricted goods
Fraud claims are surging, with England and Wales increasingly the forum of choice for global disputes. Writing in NLJ this week, Jon Felce of Cooke, Young & Keidan reports claims have risen sharply, with fraud now a major share of litigation and costing billions worldwide
Litigators digesting Mazur are being urged to tighten oversight and compliance. In his latest 'Insider' column for NLJ this week, Professor Dominic Regan of City Law School provides a cut out and keep guide to the ruling’s core test: whether an unauthorised individual is ‘in truth acting on behalf of the authorised individual’
Conflicting county court rulings have left landlords uncertain over whether they can force entry after tenants refuse access. In this week's NLJ, Edward Blakeney and Ashpen Rajah of Falcon Chambers outline a split: some judges permit it under CPR 70.2A, others insist only Parliament can authorise such powers
A wave of scandals has reignited debate over misconduct in public office, criticised as unclear and inconsistently applied. Writing in NLJ this week, Alice Lepeuple of WilmerHale says the offence’s ‘vagueness, overbreadth & inconsistent deployment’ have undermined confidence
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