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NLJ this week: Budgets & biscuits

28 February 2025
Issue: 8106 / Categories: Legal News , Procedure & practice , Civil way , CPR
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Is it spring already? In this week’s NLJ, former district judge Stephen Gold looks ahead to a cluster of changes due to take place in April. These range from an increase in the allowable costs for a medical report in low-value whiplash claims to two three-year budgeting pilots.

Speaking of costs, the Civil Way columnist is intrigued by the refreshments budget of a certain committee.

Gold covers Pt 23 applications and the right to challenge. He also reports on the latest in ‘special drawing rights’ and notes more ‘right to manage’ provisions in force from the Leasehold and Freehold Reform Act 2024, which is ‘keeping [him] in business’. 

MOVERS & SHAKERS

Birketts—trainee cohort

Birketts—trainee cohort

Firm welcomes new cohort of 29 trainee solicitors for 2025

Keoghs—four appointments

Keoghs—four appointments

Four partner hires expand legal expertise in Scotland and Northern Ireland

Brabners—Ben Lamb

Brabners—Ben Lamb

Real estate team in Yorkshire welcomes new partner

NEWS
Robert Taylor of 360 Law Services warns in this week's NLJ that adoption of artificial intelligence (AI) risks entrenching disadvantage for SME law firms, unless tools are tailored to their needs
From oligarchs to cosmetic clinics, strategic lawsuits against public participation (SLAPPs) target journalists, activists and ordinary citizens with intimidating legal tactics. Writing in NLJ this week, Sadie Whittam of Lancaster University explores the weaponisation of litigation to silence critics
Delays and dysfunction continue to mount in the county court, as revealed in a scathing Justice Committee report and under discussion this week by NLJ columnist Professor Dominic Regan of City Law School. Bulk claims—especially from private parking firms—are overwhelming the system, with 8,000 cases filed weekly
Writing in NLJ this week, Thomas Rothwell and Kavish Shah of Falcon Chambers unpack the surprise inclusion of a ban on upwards-only rent reviews in the English Devolution and Community Empowerment Bill
Charles Pigott of Mills & Reeve charts the turbulent progress of the Employment Rights Bill through the House of Lords, in this week's NLJ
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