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THIS ISSUE
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Issue: Vol 170, Issue 7885

08 May 2020
IN THIS ISSUE
Business around the world are dusting off the force majeure clauses in contracts as they seek to deal with the disruption caused by COVID-19, say barristers from Fountain Court
Extra wording has been added to the statement of truth―the verification that a witness or party believes their statement to be true, which is required by many court documents
Amendments to civil legal aid will come into force on 15 May, removing the ‘much maligned gateway’ for advice in discrimination, debt and special educational needs and reinstating face-to-face advice in these areas, as well as a small change to the evidence required to prove a person is at risk from domestic abuse and therefore eligible for legal aid, NLJ columnist Stephen Gold writes in the latest Civil Way
The Legal Aid Agency has amended its arrangements for hardship claims
A rugby spectator who exaggerated his injuries has had 15% knocked off his recoverable costs
In response to the COVID-19 outbreak, the Land Registry is accepting deeds signed using the Mercury signing approach from 4 May. 
The Civil Justice Council (CJC) has commissioned an urgent review into the impact of COVID-19 on the civil justice system
Dana Denis-Smith, CEO of Obelisk Support, has written an open letter to general counsel for diversity & inclusion, signed by 27 other female founders of legal services businesses
Judges must be ‘hard-headed’ when deciding which cases to prioritise for remote hearings and which can wait, the senior family judge has said
Law centres and advice charities have been offered a £5.4m boost to help them cope with increased demand for social welfare advice during the COVID-19 pandemic
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Results

MOVERS & SHAKERS

Birketts—trainee cohort

Birketts—trainee cohort

Firm welcomes new cohort of 29 trainee solicitors for 2025

Keoghs—four appointments

Keoghs—four appointments

Four partner hires expand legal expertise in Scotland and Northern Ireland

Brabners—Ben Lamb

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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