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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

Birketts—trainee cohort

Birketts—trainee cohort

Firm welcomes new cohort of 29 trainee solicitors for 2025

Keoghs—four appointments

Keoghs—four appointments

Four partner hires expand legal expertise in Scotland and Northern Ireland

Brabners—Ben Lamb

Brabners—Ben Lamb

Real estate team in Yorkshire welcomes new partner

NEWS
Robert Taylor of 360 Law Services warns in this week's NLJ that adoption of artificial intelligence (AI) risks entrenching disadvantage for SME law firms, unless tools are tailored to their needs
From oligarchs to cosmetic clinics, strategic lawsuits against public participation (SLAPPs) target journalists, activists and ordinary citizens with intimidating legal tactics. Writing in NLJ this week, Sadie Whittam of Lancaster University explores the weaponisation of litigation to silence critics
Delays and dysfunction continue to mount in the county court, as revealed in a scathing Justice Committee report and under discussion this week by NLJ columnist Professor Dominic Regan of City Law School. Bulk claims—especially from private parking firms—are overwhelming the system, with 8,000 cases filed weekly
Writing in NLJ this week, Thomas Rothwell and Kavish Shah of Falcon Chambers unpack the surprise inclusion of a ban on upwards-only rent reviews in the English Devolution and Community Empowerment Bill
Charles Pigott of Mills & Reeve charts the turbulent progress of the Employment Rights Bill through the House of Lords, in this week's NLJ
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