THIS ISSUE
The pandemic has been challenging for many junior litigators, so how can firms make sure they are providing the right support?
NLJ columnist Professor Dominic Regan looks into his crystal ball this week, predicting a timescale for fixed costs reforms as well as recounting an unfortunate disclosure by a judge
Without pilots, planes don’t fly. So discovered budget airline, Ryanair in 2018
Breaches of embargo on publication of the contents of a court judgment are ‘becoming more frequent’, the Court of Appeal has warned
Peers should consider whether the introduction of suspended or prospective-only quashing orders in judicial reviews correctly balance ‘providing courts with discretion and placing a presumption on how they should act’, the House of Lords Constitution Committee has said
Law firm gunnercooke has become the first major UK law firm to officially accept payment in cryptoassets such as Ethereum (Ether) and Bitcoin
Director of Public Prosecutions Max Hill QC has vowed to do better on Rape and Serious Sexual Offences (RASSO), following concerns about low numbers of convictions
The Court of Appeal has warned judges to ‘remain above the fray and neutral’ where cases involve litigants in person
The House of Lords Constitution Committee has launched an inquiry into the roles of the Lord Chancellor and the Law Officers, exploring how they currently operate, how they have evolved since the Constitutional Reform Act 2005 and whether any changes are necessary
MOVERS & SHAKERS
Kennedys—Milan Devani
Chief information officer appointment strengthens technology leadership
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Maguire Family Law—Hannah Barlow & Sophie Hughes
Firm strengthens Wilmslow team with two solicitor appointments
DWF—Ian Plumley
Londoninsurance and reinsurance practice announces partner appointment
NEWS
The Supreme Court has delivered a decisive ruling on termination under the JCT Design & Build form. Writing in NLJ this week, Andrew Singer KC and Jonathan Ward, of Kings Chambers, analyse Providence Building Services v Hexagon Housing Association [2026] UKSC 1, which restores the first-instance decision and curbs contractors’ termination rights for repeated late payment
Secondments, disciplinary procedures and appeal chaos all feature in a quartet of recent rulings. Writing in NLJ this week, Ian Smith, barrister and emeritus professor of employment law at UEA, examines how established principles are being tested in modern disputes
The AI revolution is no longer a distant murmur—it’s at the client’s desk. Writing in NLJ this week, Peter Ambrose, CEO of The Partnership and Legalito, warns that the ‘AI chickens’ have ‘come home to roost’, transforming not just legal practice but the lawyer–client relationship itself
A High Court ruling involving the Longleat estate has exposed the fault line between modern family building and historic trust drafting. Writing in NLJ this week, Charlotte Coyle, director and family law expert at Freeths, examines Cator v Thynn [2026] EWHC 209 (Ch), where trustees sought approval to modernise trusts that retain pre-1970 definitions of ‘child’, ‘grandchild’ and ‘issue’
Fresh proposals to criminalise ‘nudification’ apps, prioritise cyberflashing and non-consensual intimate images, and even ban under-16s from social media have reignited debate over whether the Online Safety Act 2023 (OSA 2023) is fit for purpose. Writing in NLJ this week, Alexander Brown, head of technology, media and telecommunications, and Alexandra Webster, managing associate, Simmons & Simmons, caution against reactive law-making that could undermine the Act’s ‘risk-based and outcomes-focused’ design
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