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10 December 2025
Issue: 8143 / Categories: Legal News , Profession
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New Legal Ombudsman chosen

Former deputy chief constable of North Yorkshire Police Phil Cain is to be the next Legal Ombudsman, taking over from interim chief executives Steve Pearson and David Peckham in February

Cain spent more than a decade in the Royal Air Force, serving in Northern Ireland and Iraq, and 20 years at North Yorkshire Police, before his current role as executive director of the Gangmasters and Labour Abuse Authority.

Elisabeth Davies, chair of the Office for Legal Complaints, said Cain’s ‘extensive experience and unwavering commitment to public service set him apart in a highly competitive field, alongside his clear vision and collaborative leadership style’.

Issue: 8143 / Categories: Legal News , Profession
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MOVERS & SHAKERS

Thomson Hayton Winkley—Jordan Wallace

Thomson Hayton Winkley—Jordan Wallace

Thomson Hayton Winkley strengthens family law team

Ward Hadaway—Barnaby Rosenthall

Ward Hadaway—Barnaby Rosenthall

Construction lawyer returns to Ward Hadaway in Teesside role

Bird & Bird—Shahin Baghaei

Bird & Bird—Shahin Baghaei

Bird Bird hires leading legal transformation expert

NEWS
Legal aid deserts leave almost one in four without adequate access to justice
The Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA) has warned solicitors and law firms that using artificial intelligence does not alter their professional obligations, amid concerns over inaccurate legal material and client confidentiality
From forgotten interest claims to case-management appeals, a string of procedural developments offers useful—and occasionally cautionary—lessons for practitioners

Jonathan Fisher KC highlights that it now accounts for around 40% of criminal offences, with roughly 70% involving technology, and argues that the UK cannot simply prosecute its way out of the problem. Detection, investigation and prosecution all require improvement, while different fraud types demand tailored responses.

How forcefully can a litigant criticise a public authority before robust advocacy crosses the line into unreasonable conduct? 
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