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24 October 2025
Issue: 8136 / Categories: Legal News , Profession , In Court
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NLJ this week: Leading from the front

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As he steps down as Chancellor of the High Court, Sir Julian Flaux reflects on over 40 years in law, citing independence, impartiality and integrity as guiding principles. In a special interview with Grania Langdon-Down for NLJ, Sir Julian highlights morale, mentorship and openness as key to a thriving judiciary

Sir Julian reflects on a career spanning the Commercial Bar to judicial leadership through Brexit, Covid and the AI era. He celebrates the resilience of the Business and Property Courts, which remain busier than ever, and champions diversity on the bench. At the helm of the Rolls Building, his open-door ethos helped curb bullying and broaden judicial experience.

As he hands over to Lord Justice Birss, Flaux says he will miss the people, not the pressure—planning travel and arbitration work but no memoirs. He leaves behind him proof that English justice, despite global competition, still thrives on quality and integrity.

MOVERS & SHAKERS

Harneys—Maggie Kwok & George Weston

Harneys—Maggie Kwok & George Weston

Harneys senior leadership appointments

Freeths—Keith Browne & Jim Jordan

Freeths—Keith Browne & Jim Jordan

Freeths strengthens London Construction and Engineering practice with two strategic senior hires

Anthony Collins—Laura Moss

Anthony Collins—Laura Moss

Anthony Collins announces strategic hire to deepen skills base in the social business sector

NEWS
More than 100 teams from the legal and financial services sectors competed in five sports at the 51st Law Society RFC Festival of Sport earlier this month
Part-time status need only be an effective cause of less favourable treatment, rather than the sole cause, the Supreme Court has held in Augustine v Data Cars
Britain’s new acknowledgement that Israel’s occupation is unlawful, and accompanying settlement-goods ban and sanctions, is significant but overdue, argue Danny Friedman KC and Victor Kattan in NLJ this week
New planning fee rises, wider trade union access rights and a service-by-email trap feature in Stephen Gold’s latest Civil Way
Existing defamation law can respond to AI ‘hallucinations’, but allocating responsibility will prove harder where outputs reach users without human intervention
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