header-logo header-logo

22 October 2020 / John Cooper KC
Issue: 7907 / Categories: Features , Profession
printer mail-detail

The show(s) must go on

30014
John Cooper QC ‘attends’ this year’s BFI London Film Festival & reviews an opening film heavily laced with law

This year’s BFI London Film Festival, which ran from 7 October to 18 October 2020, was delivered in unusual circumstances, with all the films online and networking being confined to virtual chatrooms. But among all these COVID driven changes, there were still some high-class offerings for those who like their movies heavily laced with the law.

Much anticipated Mangrove

The Festival opened with Steve McQueen’s much anticipated Mangrove. McQueen directed this drama and based it upon the notorious trial in the 1970s when nine black people were arrested and charged with incitement to riot.

The seminal trial was held over 55 days after which the so-called Mangrove Nine were all acquitted. This December marks the 50th anniversary of the start of the trial.

The trial was based upon an incident between a group of black radicals and allegations brought against them arising from violent clashes with the police during a protest

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

NLJ Career Profile: Ken Fowlie, Stowe Family Law

NLJ Career Profile: Ken Fowlie, Stowe Family Law

Ken Fowlie, chairman of Stowe Family Law, reflects on more than 30 years in legal services after ‘falling into law’

Gardner Leader—Michelle Morgan & Catherine Morris

Gardner Leader—Michelle Morgan & Catherine Morris

Regional law firm expands employment team with partner and senior associate hires

Freeths—Carly Harwood & Tom Newton

Freeths—Carly Harwood & Tom Newton

Nottinghamtrusts, estates and tax team welcomes two senior associates

NEWS
Children can claim for ‘lost years’ damages in personal injury cases, the Supreme Court has held in a landmark judgment
The cab-rank rule remains a bulwark of the rule of law, yet lawyers are increasingly judged by their clients’ causes. Writing in NLJ this week, Ian McDougall, president of the LexisNexis Rule of Law Foundation, warns that conflating representation with endorsement is a ‘clear and present danger’
Holiday lets may promise easy returns, but restrictive covenants can swiftly scupper plans. Writing in NLJ this week, Andrew Francis of Serle Court recounts how covenants limiting use to a ‘private dwelling house’ or ‘private residence’ have repeatedly defeated short-term letting schemes
Artificial intelligence (AI) is already embedded in the civil courts, but regulation lags behind practice. Writing in NLJ this week, Ben Roe of Baker McKenzie charts a landscape where AI assists with transcription, case management and document handling, yet raises acute concerns over evidence, advocacy and even judgment-writing
The Supreme Court has drawn a firm line under branding creativity in regulated markets. In Dairy UK Ltd v Oatly AB, it ruled that Oatly’s ‘post-milk generation’ trade mark unlawfully deployed a protected dairy designation. In NLJ this week, Asima Rana of DWF explains that the court prioritised ‘regulatory clarity over creative branding choices’, holding that ‘designation’ extends beyond product names to marketing slogans
back-to-top-scroll