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17 October 2025 / Dominic Regan
Issue: 8135 / Categories: Opinion , Profession , Regulatory , Legal services , Tax , Costs , Disclosure
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The insider: 17 October 2025

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Dominic Regan crowns his case of the year with a cut-out-and-keep guide, plus highlights some bumper judgments to read as the nights draw in

Like it or not, the case of the year for civil practitioners is without a doubt Mazur and another v Charles Russell Speechlys LLP [2025] EWHC 2341 (KB). Oh, the irony of it all. A High Court decision that has caused mass hysteria was provoked by a dispute over an unpaid bill rendered by a firm of solicitors to clients who are qualified but non-practising solicitors. The solicitors instructed another firm of solicitors to recover the alleged debt.

I set out below the exquisite summary of the three key aspects of the judgment delivered by Mr Justice Sheldon. It was written by Juliet Oliver, managing director of Stratify, and I am so grateful for her permission to reproduce it. Commentaries are everywhere, including in this fine journal. I am stepping back for now, but will flag up the view of my great

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MOVERS & SHAKERS

Clarke Willmott—Matthew Roach

Clarke Willmott—Matthew Roach

Partner joins commercial property team in Taunton office

Farrer & Co—Richard Lane

Farrer & Co—Richard Lane

Londstanding London firm appoints new senior partner

Bird & Bird—Sue McLean

Bird & Bird—Sue McLean

Commercial team in London welcomes technology specialist as partner

NEWS
What safeguards apply when trust corporations are appointed as deputy by the Court of Protection? 
Disputing parties are expected to take part in alternative dispute resolution (ADR), where this is suitable for their case. At what point, however, does refusing to participate cross the threshold of ‘unreasonable’ and attract adverse costs consequences?
When it comes to free legal advice, demand massively outweighs supply. 'Millions of people are excluded from access to justice as they don’t have anywhere to turn for free advice—or don’t know that they can ask for help,' Bhavini Bhatt, development director at the Access to Justice Foundation, writes in this week's NLJ
When an ex-couple is deciding who gets what in the divorce or civil partnership dissolution, when is it appropriate for a third party to intervene? David Burrows, NLJ columnist and solicitor advocate, considers this thorny issue in this week’s NLJ
NLJ's latest Charities Appeals Supplement has been published in this week’s issue
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