header-logo header-logo

04 September 2026 / Professor Dominic Regan
Issue: 8175 / Categories: Opinion , Profession , Costs , Liability
printer mail-detail

The insider: 4 September 2026

258069
© Getty images
Spoons: Supporter of independent door control
Enforcement headaches, reluctant judgments & surprising outcomes: Dominic Regan surveys the legal landscape

Securing judgment is often only the start of a drawn-out process to secure satisfaction of the order. In DBLP Sea Cow Ltd v Stefensen [2026] EWHC 1735 (Ch), the claimant had judgment for US$7.125m. To date, it had recovered a modest £119. This was a contempt application, the defendant having failed to comply with orders to reveal where the money had gone. The excellent David Reade KC secured a maximum two-year sentence, although the defendant was outside the jurisdiction. On the plus side, Mr Justice Mellor went out of his way to praise a lovely skeleton accompanied by a beautiful bundle.

A vigorous approach to enforcement was seen in 56 Fellows Road Ltd v ABC Block Management Ltd [2026] EWCA Civ 401. Here, a High Court enforcement officer went in pursuit of an unsatisfied judgment of £7,700 against the Fellows Road property company of which Mr Wolanski was a director. In order to make

If you are not a subscriber, subscribe now to read this content
If you are already a subscriber sign in
...or Register for two weeks' free access to subscriber content

MOVERS & SHAKERS

Bell Yard Kysen—Liz Giles

Bell Yard Kysen—Liz Giles

Bell Yard Kysen appoints senior legal PR and ex-government communications adviser, Liz Giles

Clarke Willmott—Lee Edwards

Clarke Willmott—Lee Edwards

Clarke Willmott boosts Southampton commercial property team with addition of partner Lee Edwards

Lime Solicitors—four promotions

Lime Solicitors—four promotions

Lime Solicitors announces four promotions

NEWS
Witness evidence can be compromised by AI before a solicitor sees the draft, leaving safeguards focused on authorship incomplete
Possession claims are entering a new digital era, with procedural traps awaiting practitioners who assume familiar rules still govern every step
A polished legal defence may owe more to artificial intelligence than legal merit—and creditors risk paying the price in delay and expense
An indemnity costs battle with a £20m gap could reopen an important question: what weight should an approved budget carry?
The Environment Agency can prosecute offences beyond environmental legislation where proceedings support its statutory functions, the Divisional Court has confirmed
back-to-top-scroll