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06 February 2026 / Dominic Regan
Issue: 8148 / Categories: Opinion , Legal services , Profession , Costs
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The insider: 6 February 2026

241917
Who’s coming, who’s going, & what cases are worth watching? Dominic Regan reports from the legal frontlines

I have had the privilege of reading several skeletons adduced for the forthcoming Mazur appeal, listed for 2.5 days on 24 February. Viable arguments abound. On the bench will be the Master of the Rolls, Chancellor of the High Court Lord Justice Birss, and Lady Justice Andrews. It is to be hoped that a judgment will be delivered before Easter.

Our fine Master of the Rolls, Sir Geoffrey Vos, is to retire at the end of October. In November 2024, I was in the audience when the then courts minister Heidi Alexander spoke of her admiration for him, admitting that she had directed her senior civil servants to ‘bring me more Sir Geoffreys’. An hour later, and after less than six months in post, she was moved to become the transport secretary.

I anticipate that the new Master will be female. My money is on Lady Simler, who is as charming

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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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