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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

Slater Heelis—Probate & Court of Protection team

Slater Heelis—Probate & Court of Protection team

Slater Heelis brings Probate and Court of Protection expertise together with new dedicated team

Clarke Willmott—Antonia Power

Clarke Willmott—Antonia Power

Antonia Power joins Clarke Willmott in Taunton

Haynes Boone—Chris Acton

Haynes Boone—Chris Acton

Chris Acton joins Haynes Boone as chair of UK derivatives platform

NEWS
Civil practitioners face changes spanning debt recovery, workplace harassment and possession claims, alongside guidance on insolvency challenges and children proceedings

Finding matrimonial wealth is as challenging as dividing it, as family disputes draw practitioners into asset tracing, offshore structures and insolvency

Agreement between opponents offers no guarantee that a court will approve a retrospective increase to a costs budget
Climate change belongs on every lawyer’s agenda, with risks extending far beyond environmental practice into commercial advice, litigation and access to justice
Workplace bullying and harassment can no longer be left solely to HR, as financial regulation scrutinises culture, character and fitness
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