header-logo header-logo

13 June 2025
Issue: 8120 / Categories: Legal News , Human rights , Equality , Constitutional law
printer mail-detail

NLJ this week: Sex, gender & parliamentary sovereignty

222361
Trans rights in the aftermath of the recent Supreme Court judgment is a complex and sensitive area. In this week’s NLJ, Dr Graham Zellick KC, emeritus professor of law and former vice-chancellor of the University of London, reflects on the Supreme Court’s decision in For Women Scotland, the wider societal context behind the decision and the limited powers of the Gender Recognition Act 2004, under which gender recognition certificates are issued

Zellick critiques parts of the Supreme Court’s decision, asking why the court did not take account of a 2004 House of Lords precedent, as well as highlighting For Women Scotland’s impact on the Gender Recognition Act. He writes that the Act ‘has been left with little or no significance.

‘This provokes the question of whether the law remains ECHR-compliant. Amnesty International was allowed to intervene in For Women Scotland and made written submissions on the international human rights aspects of the case, but, inexplicably, they were entirely ignored.’ 

MOVERS & SHAKERS

Shakespeare Martineau—Marie Bourke

Shakespeare Martineau—Marie Bourke

Shakespeare Martineau strengthens Sheffield regulatory practice with new hires

Sackers—Louise McRae & Annabella Hwang

Sackers—Louise McRae & Annabella Hwang

Sackers recruits new associates

McHale & Co—Shaun Little & Patrick Byrne

McHale & Co—Shaun Little & Patrick Byrne

Firm bolsters senior team with head of corporate and head of employment

NEWS
A wide-ranging Civil Way column highlights developments from insolvency procedure to employment law, but one case stands out for its lessons on bankruptcy, family homes and digital communications
A sprawling Intellectual Property Office battle between House of Fraser and Frasers Property has delivered a masterclass in modern trade mark law
Courts in England and Wales and Singapore are increasingly confronting complex disputes over international child relocation as families become more globally mobile
The government’s long-awaited family law reform consultation could mark a turning point for domestic abuse victims navigating financial remedy proceedings, but significant challenges remain
A new commercial court pilot giving the public access to documents used in hearings, including expert reports, is raising difficult questions about transparency and privacy
back-to-top-scroll