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03 February 2023
Issue: 8011 / Categories: Legal News , Disclosure , Procedure & practice , Sanctions
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NLJ this week: The dangers of suppressing evidence

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Barrister Dr Mike Wilkinson discusses the ‘do’s and don’ts’ of disclosure, in this week’s NLJ

In a fascinating article, available here, he covers the seriousness of suppressing documents and other evidence, including such unfathomable incidents as accidentally losing a phone in the North Sea (Vardy v Rooney).

Wilkinson, of 18 St John Street Chambers, covers the Roman law of ‘exploitation’ (wanton destruction of evidence), the drawing of adverse inferences where a document is ‘conspicuous by its absence’, and much more. He warns of the risk of penalty, noting ‘there are plenty of sanctions short of a complete strike-out’ which the court can apply. 

MOVERS & SHAKERS

Carey Olsen—Patrick Ormond

Carey Olsen—Patrick Ormond

Partner joinscorporate and finance practice in British Virgin Islands

Dawson Cornwell—Naomi Angell

Dawson Cornwell—Naomi Angell

Firm strengthens children department with adoption and surrogacy expert

Penningtons Manches Cooper—Graham Green

Penningtons Manches Cooper—Graham Green

Media and technology expert joins employment team as partner in Cambridge

NEWS
Freezing orders in divorce proceedings can unexpectedly ensnare third parties and disrupt businesses. In NLJ this week, Lucy James of Trowers & Hamlins explains how these orders—dubbed a ‘nuclear weapon’—preserve assets but can extend far beyond spouses to companies and business partners 
A Court of Appeal ruling has clarified that ‘rent’ must be monetary—excluding tenants paid in labour from statutory protection. In this week's NLJ, James Naylor explains Garraway v Phillips, where a tenant worked two days a week instead of paying rent
Thousands more magistrates are to be recruited, under a major shake-up to speed up and expand the hiring process
The winners of the LexisNexis Legal Awards 2026 have now been announced, marking another outstanding celebration of excellence, innovation, and impact across the legal profession
Three men wrongly imprisoned for a combined 77 years have been released—yet received ‘not a penny’ in compensation, exposing deep flaws in the justice system. Writing in NLJ this week, Dr Jon Robins reports on Justin Plummer, Oliver Campbell and Peter Sullivan, whose convictions collapsed amid discredited forensics, ‘oppressive’ police interviews and unreliable ‘cell confessions’
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