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NLJ this week: Matrimonialisation, missed post & protocol inertia

25 July 2025
Issue: 8126 / Categories: Legal News , Procedure & practice , Civil way
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Retired district judge Stephen Gold delivers a brisk tour of recent civil procedure developments in his latest Civil Way column for NLJ

A revised E2 form for financial remedy cases is now live, boasting a ‘grand totals’ box and clearer formatting—plus a nod to traditional gendered labels. Meanwhile, the Price Marking (Amendment) Order 2025 delays grocery pricing reforms until April 2026.

Domestic abuse victims and care leavers are now exempt from local connection tests for social housing. Postal service woes continue, with nearly a quarter of first-class mail arriving late—raising questions about CPR 6.14’s service assumptions.

In MH Site Maintenance v Watson, the Court of Appeal clarified that courts can intervene in stalled pre-action protocol claims if protective Part 8 proceedings exist. Finally, in Standish v Standish, the Supreme Court endorsed ‘matrimonialisation’—the transformation of non-matrimonial assets into shared property—while rejecting a narrow interpretation.

Gold’s commentary is sharp, witty and packed with procedural punch.

MOVERS & SHAKERS

Quinn Emanuel—James McSweeney

Quinn Emanuel—James McSweeney

London promotion underscores firm’s investment in white collar and investigations

Ward Hadaway—Louise Miller

Ward Hadaway—Louise Miller

Private client team strengthened by partner appointment

NLJ Career Profile: Kate Gaskell, Flex Legal

NLJ Career Profile: Kate Gaskell, Flex Legal

Kate Gaskell, CEO of Flex Legal, reflects on chasing her childhood dreams underscores the importance of welcoming those from all backgrounds into the profession

NEWS
Overcrowded prisons, mental health hospitals and immigration centres are failing to meet international and domestic human rights standards, the National Preventive Mechanism (NPM) has warned
Two speedier and more streamlined qualification routes have been launched for probate and conveyancing professionals
Workplace stress was a contributing factor in almost one in eight cases before the employment tribunal last year, indicating its endemic grip on the UK workplace
Professor Dominic Regan of City Law School highlights a turbulent end to 2025 in the civil courts, from the looming appeal in Mazur to judicial frustration with ever-expanding bundles, in his final NLJ 'The insider' column of the year
Antonia Glover of Quinn Emanuel outlines sweeping transparency reforms following the work of the Transparency and Open Justice Board in this week's NLJ
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