THIS ISSUE
There’s a new emphasis on sharing in family proceedings, from 6 April, when communications between parties and the courts will need to be copied to the other party, in certain circumstances, NLJ columnist Stephen Gold writes in his column, Civil Way, this week
Judges could be given more power to deal with contempt of court, under proposals set out by the Civil Procedure Rules Committee (CPRC)
Squatters have rights but there is much landowners can do to protect themselves from the menace of adverse possession, barrister Alec Samuels writes in NLJ’s property supplement this week
Calling outstanding lawyers and those who know them! Nominations are open for the following International Bar Association (IBA) annual awards: the IBA Award for Outstanding Contribution by a Legal Practitioner to Human Rights, the IBA Pro Bono Award and the IBA Outstanding Young Lawyer Award
The electronic bill of costs is likely to be extended, starting with Court of Protection bills, an Association of Costs Lawyers (ACL) roundtable of specialist judges and lawyers has heard
A charity has launched a helpline for people without access to lawyers in the family and civil courts
The UK mistreated Wikileaks founder Julian Assange during his US extradition trial in February at Woolwich Crown Court, the International Bar Association’s Human Rights Institute (IBAHRI) has said
The role Lady Hale played in shaping and developing the concepts behind the Children Act 1989 is perhaps her greatest achievement, writes family lawyer David Burrows in NLJ this week
The courts and tribunals appear to be taking a more flexible approach to adjournment of cases, as the COVID-19 virus scare gathers pace
The Court of Appeal has dealt a blow to those seeking to restrict public protest by ‘persons unknown’
MOVERS & SHAKERS
Birketts—trainee cohort
Firm welcomes new cohort of 29 trainee solicitors for 2025
Keoghs—four appointments
Four partner hires expand legal expertise in Scotland and Northern Ireland
Brabners—Ben Lamb
Real estate team in Yorkshire welcomes new partner
NEWS
Robert Taylor of 360 Law Services warns in this week's NLJ that adoption of artificial intelligence (AI) risks entrenching disadvantage for SME law firms, unless tools are tailored to their needs
The Court of Protection has ruled in Macpherson v Sunderland City Council that capacity must be presumed unless clearly rebutted. In this week's NLJ, Sam Karim KC and Sophie Hurst of Kings Chambers dissect the judgment and set out practical guidance for advisers faced with issues relating to retrospective capacity and/or assessments without an examination
Delays and dysfunction continue to mount in the county court, as revealed in a scathing Justice Committee report and under discussion this week by NLJ columnist Professor Dominic Regan of City Law School. Bulk claims—especially from private parking firms—are overwhelming the system, with 8,000 cases filed weekly
Charles Pigott of Mills & Reeve charts the turbulent progress of the Employment Rights Bill through the House of Lords, in this week's NLJ
From oligarchs to cosmetic clinics, strategic lawsuits against public participation (SLAPPs) target journalists, activists and ordinary citizens with intimidating legal tactics. Writing in NLJ this week, Sadie Whittam of Lancaster University explores the weaponisation of litigation to silence critics
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