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Songs of praise

28 October 2011 / Roger Smith
Issue: 7487 / Categories: Opinion
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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

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
The Court of Protection has ruled in Macpherson v Sunderland City Council that capacity must be presumed unless clearly rebutted. In this week's NLJ, Sam Karim KC and Sophie Hurst of Kings Chambers dissect the judgment and set out practical guidance for advisers faced with issues relating to retrospective capacity and/or assessments without an examination
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
Charles Pigott of Mills & Reeve charts the turbulent progress of the Employment Rights Bill through the House of Lords, in this week's NLJ
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
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