Mazur v Charles Russell Speechlys [2025] EWHC 2341 (KB) has restated a fundamental truth, writes John Gould, chair of Russell-Cooke, in this week's NLJ: only authorised persons can conduct litigation. The decision sparked alarm, but Gould stresses it merely confirms the Legal Services Act 2007
He unpacks the distinction between 'conducting' and merely 'working on' a case—the former reserved, the latter delegable. Accountability and supervision aren’t substitutes for authorisation, he cautions. Firms using unqualified staff for substantive casework risk breaching criminal and regulatory rules. Delegation remains vital for efficiency and affordability, but responsibility for material litigation steps must rest with an authorised person.
Gould’s piece offers calm amid the furore, reminding practitioners that Mazur should prompt compliance, not panic—a necessary correction, not a revolution.
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