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11 August 2017
Issue: 7758 / Categories: Legal News
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Time for a new legal personality?

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It could be time for a new legal category of ‘electronic person’ to help the law get to grips with new technology—just as the ‘corporate person’ was created in days gone by. ‘At first glance, it seems far-fetched (as perhaps did 'corporate persons' 400 years ago),’ concede David Kidman, partner at DWF, and Stephen Turner, legal director at DAC Beachcroft, in this week’s NLJ.

However, smart technology, the ‘internet of things’ where devices communicate with each other, and the use of artificial intelligence makes liability difficult to establish. An 'electronic person' would be a simple focal point to sue.

MOVERS & SHAKERS

Signature Litigation—Catherine Naylor

Signature Litigation—Catherine Naylor

International fraud and asset recovery offering boosted by partner hire

Stevens & Bolton—Alexa Payet

Stevens & Bolton—Alexa Payet

Private wealth disputes team adds contentious probate specialist

Morgan Lewis—Paul Feldberg

Morgan Lewis—Paul Feldberg

Firm strengthens investigations and sanctions capabilities with London partner hire

NEWS
Cheshire West, which established an ‘acid test’ for deprivation of liberty safeguards, has been overturned by the Supreme Court
The Chancery Division and other segments of the High Court are to be replaced by a new Business and Property Division (BPD), in a major civil justice shakeup
Law firms that hold client money will need to file annual accountants’ reports and make a declaration, the Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA) confirmed this week
Two district judges and a tribunal judge have been sanctioned for delays in delivering judgments and orders
Private equity (PE) investment into UK law firms halved to £250m last year, but deal volume rose, according to research by Acquira Professional Services’ Momentum private equity market tracker
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