THIS ISSUE
Criminal barristers will down tools indefinitely from next week, in a major escalation of their strike action which has been taking place on alternate weeks
Remember the Sewel Convention (that Westminster will not legislate on devolved matters without the consent of the relevant Parliament, Senedd or Assembly)? In this week’s NLJ, columnist Roger Smith argues that it’s time to give Sewel ‘some teeth’
In this week’s Civil Way, former District Judge Stephen Gold highlights the headaches of serving claim forms outside the jurisdiction, with one form in particular necessitating ‘the adhesion of migraine cool gel sheets (strongly recommended) to the forehead of the microchipless’
The Home Office has launched a ‘Scale-up’ visa route to help businesses recruit highly skilled employees
Yasmin Batliwala MBE reports on the growing need for legal professionals to familiarise themselves with the Sustainable Development Agenda
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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