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04 September 2026 / Dominic Regan
Issue: 8175 / Categories: Opinion , Profession , Costs , Liability
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The insider: 4 September 2026

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© 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 a point,

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NEWS
Restrictions on workplace non-disclosure agreements could make settlements slower, more complex and more expensive when reforms expected in 2027 take effect
Private prosecutors face closer scrutiny under Crown Prosecution Service guidance designed to strengthen accountability and consistency when intervention is requested
Foreign states cannot necessarily claim immunity for cyber operations launched abroad against computers in Britain, following a divided Supreme Court ruling
Defendants who make unsupported complaints about their lawyers risk losing legal aid while confiscation proceedings continue without representation
Lawyers advising Russian clients face different sanctions restrictions across the UK, EU and US, despite their shared objective of increasing pressure on Russia
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