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14 August 2026
Issue: 8174 / Categories: Legal News , Procedure & practice , CPR
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NLJ this week Civil way: Practical procedure lessons & cautionary tales

From forgotten interest claims to case-management appeals, a string of procedural developments offers useful—and occasionally cautionary—lessons for practitioners

NLJ columnist Stephen Gold surveys the latest developments, including Timokhin v Timokhina, which demonstrates that failure to plead interest need not always be fatal, particularly in Part 8 proceedings, although practitioners should still plead it wherever possible.

Updated Technology and Construction Court guidance introduces Building Safety Act material, revised procurement guidance and expectations surrounding AI, while warning against rancorous litigation.

Ward v Rai reinforces appellate reluctance to interfere with case-management decisions and emphasises seeking clarification or reconsideration from the first-instance judge before appealing. Family Procedure Rule changes increase scrutiny of unregulated experts in children cases, while revised family listing guidance seeks greater consistency and manageable judicial workloads.

Gold also notes recent decisions rejecting arguments that formal or consent orders are not “judgments” for Part 36 purposes. 

Issue: 8174 / Categories: Legal News , Procedure & practice , CPR
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