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11 September 2026
Issue: 8176 / Categories: Legal News , Civil way , Procedure & practice
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NLJ this week: Employment deadlines lengthen

A longer time limit for employment tribunal claims, new charity law thresholds, property tribunal recruitment and appellate guidance on small-claims costs feature in the latest Civil Way round-up

Writing in NLJ this week, Stephen Gold, NLJ columnist, notes that most employment claims can be brought within six months rather than three from 1 October, under the Employment Rights Act 2025. The change aligns the period with redundancy and equal-pay claims. He also highlights a forthcoming drive for 45 fee-paid judges in the First-tier Tribunal’s property chamber, where caseloads are expected to rise sharply.

Elsewhere, the Court of Appeal in Orton v Barclays Bank UK plc confirms that costs on the small-claims track require conduct with no reasonable explanation; simply losing or withdrawing a claim is insufficient. In Tachkani, the Upper Tribunal also rejected an attempt to imply a service-charge reserve fund into leases that did not provide for one.

MOVERS & SHAKERS

Trowers & Hamlins—Paul Batchelor

Trowers & Hamlins—Paul Batchelor

Trowers Hamlins strengthens Birmingham Office with senior corporate partner hire

Birketts—trainee appointments

Birketts—trainee appointments

Birketts welcomes largest ever Trainee Solicitor cohort for 2026

Sidley—James Sherlock

Sidley—James Sherlock

Sidley Expands Private Equity Practice With James Sherlock in London

NEWS
A divorced woman has secured funding to participate in her former husband’s inquest after the Legal Aid Agency reconsidered repeated refusals
The Thirlwall Inquiry has exposed a ‘complete failure’ to protect babies at the Countess of Chester Hospital, but its recommendations must now be put into practice
MPs cannot simply resign their Commons seats. Instead, they take a nominal Crown office, usually the Chiltern Hundreds or Manor of Northstead, which disqualifies them from sitting
Developers in areas with poorly performing councils can apply directly to the Planning Inspectorate for permission under section 62A of the Town and Country Planning Act 1990
When does a solicitor’s retainer become a contentious business agreement? The Court of Appeal’s decision in Broadfield Law UK LLP v Barnes shows that listing hourly rates alone will not do, leaving firms and clients uncertain about their rights over bills
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