THIS ISSUE
Three out of four family justice professionals say their work-related pressures have increased since the first national lockdown, according to a Resolution survey
The Queen’s Bench Division has stated it will now only accept urgent interim applications if they are made electronically, due to restrictions in place on account of the COVID-19 pandemic
Law firms have worked with banking and finance industry body UK Finance to draw up a comprehensive list of sanctions and embargoes that will apply after the Brexit transition period ends
Planned legislation on secret agents and undercover officers creates a risk of state-sanctioned rape, murder and torture, MPs and Peers have warned
The backlog of 50,000 cases in the Crown court will take years to clear, the Lord Chief Justice has indicated
Firm hires litigator
PLA appoints new chair
The Supreme Court has clarified the meaning of ‘public interest’ in a case where a housing company built on land adjoining a children’s hospice, in breach of restrictive covenants
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
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
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
Writing in NLJ this week, Thomas Rothwell and Kavish Shah of Falcon Chambers unpack the surprise inclusion of a ban on upwards-only rent reviews in the English Devolution and Community Empowerment Bill
Charles Pigott of Mills & Reeve charts the turbulent progress of the Employment Rights Bill through the House of Lords, in this week's NLJ
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