THIS ISSUE
Family lawyer and NLJ columnist David Burrows works his way through a maze of legal aid provisions and considers the frequently misunderstood rule of contempt of court, in this week’s NLJ
Draft sentencing guidelines for selling or possessing counterfeit goods intended for sale have been published by the Sentencing Council
The easing of lockdown restrictions could unleash a wave of property-related litigation, Phil Sissons, of Falcon Court, writes in this week’s NLJ
Professor Chris Bones, chair of CILEx, makes the case for reforming professional regulation, in this week’s NLJ
It’s time for structural change to resolve bullying and harassment in the legal profession, consulting barrister Kevin Charles, of Crossland Employment Solicitors, writes in this week’s NLJ
Will the easing of lockdown restrictions also unleash a wave of property related litigation? Phil Sissons, Falcon Chambers
Jessica Clay & Lucy Williams, of Kingsley Napley, examine the potential for lasting legal services reform, in the light of Professor Mayson’s report
David Burrows navigates through a labyrinth of legal aid provisions & tackles the much misunderstood ‘contempt’
Ian Smith walks the line of three recent employment cases
Professor Chris Bones of CILEx explains why the legal profession should not stand in the way of regulatory change
MOVERS & SHAKERS
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
Regional law firm expands employment team with partner and senior associate hires
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
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