THIS ISSUE
Judgment debtors hit for VAT; Success fee through back door; Divorce reform latest; Document redaction OK? Service charge battle; Mercy for Personal Reps
When the Bar Pro Bono Unit, now known as Advocate, was set up 25 years ago it immediately recognised the value of celebrating its barristers and publicising pro bono by handing out an award every year
Hugh Johnson & Miriam Spencer weigh up the current system of litigating against the NHS: is root-and-branch reform the answer?
Charlotte Bijlani and Soraya Corm-Bakhos chart the arbitration landscape in Dubai and the changes made by Decree 34
Lack of diversity on the bench has persisted despite the best efforts of legislators & the legal profession: Geoffrey Bindman asks what more can be done
In the first of a two-part series, Kim Beatson & Victoria Brown provide an expert guide to split hearings
Get me out of here! In his end of year address, Ian Smith navigates a series of obstacles & challenges including notification, blacklisting, reconsideration, anonymisation & postponements
Former District Judge Stephen Gold puts the Christmas tree decorating to one side and surveys the latest legal developments in Civil Way this week, covering the enforcement of debts, or rather who pays the fees for it, as well as the question of success fees in an inheritance battle
Lack of diversity in the judiciary is an issue that has persisted despite the efforts of legislators and the legal profession. Writing in this week’s NLJ, Geoffrey Bindman asks what more can be done
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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