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28 October 2011 / Roger Smith
Issue: 7487 / Categories: Opinion
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Songs of praise

Roger Smith rounds up some recent reviews & awards in the legal world

Lord Judge used a keynote speech at Justice’s annual human rights conference this month to give what he clearly thought was necessary support to Sir Brian Leveson’s inquiry into the press.

Actually, Sir Brian looks as if he is doing rather well on his own. It was predictable that knockabout journalists like Kelvin MacKenzie would seek to intimidate him—as he has. Yet, Sir Brian appears unperturbed. He has handed down a confident 45 paragraph ruling on why he was not going to bend to “red-top” pressure to appoint more assessors from their camp.

More importantly, Sir Brian has made critics of his arrangements look silly by his conduct of the inquiry so far. Judges do appear to be getting to get to grips with inquiry procedure. Lord Hutton was hobbled by his terms of reference but developed the use of a website to publicise evidence. Sir Brian has begun with two days of open discussion that was filmed as it occurred. Papers

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MOVERS & SHAKERS

Jurit LLP—Caroline Williams

Jurit LLP—Caroline Williams

Private wealth and tax team welcomes cross-border specialist as consultant

HFW—Simon Petch

HFW—Simon Petch

Global shipping practice expands with experienced ship finance partner hire

Freeths—Richard Lockhart

Freeths—Richard Lockhart

Infrastructure specialist joins as partner in Glasgow office

NEWS
Talk of a reserved ‘Welsh seat’ on the Supreme Court is misplaced. In NLJ this week, Professor Graham Zellick KC explains that the Constitutional Reform Act treats ‘England and Wales’ as one jurisdiction, with no statutory Welsh slot
The government’s plan to curb jury trials has sparked ‘jury furore’. Writing in NLJ this week, David Locke, partner at Hill Dickinson, says the rationale is ‘grossly inadequate’
A year after the $1.5bn Bybit heist, crypto fraud is booming—but so is recovery. Writing in NLJ this week, Neil Holloway, founder and CEO of M2 Recovery, warns that scams hit at least $14bn in 2025, fuelled by ‘pig butchering’ cons and AI deepfakes
After Woodcock confirmed no general duty to warn, debate turns to the criminal law. Writing in NLJ this week, Charles Davey of The Barrister Group urges revival of misprision or a modern equivalent
Family courts are tightening control of expert evidence. Writing in NLJ this week, Dr Chris Pamplin says there is ‘no automatic right’ to call experts; attendance must be ‘necessary in the interests of justice’ under FPR Pt 25
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