THIS ISSUE
The Supreme Court decision in Barton v Morris is a landmark case on the interaction between the law of unjust enrichment and the law of contract.
Could chatbots open up access to justice? NLJ columnist and former Justice director Roger Smith puts ChatGPT to the test in this week’s issue.
The personal injury discount rate, which is used by judges when calculating damages, is up for its five-year review next year, writes Julian Chamberlayne, in this week’s NLJ.
Could seized sanctions assets be used to fund the reconstruction of Ukraine? It’s a fascinating question.
We should seize the opportunities presented by new models of artificial intelligence to improve the provision of legal advice, says Roger Smith
Kate Temple-Mabe explains the importance of securing compensation for victims of trafficking—and the creative approach needed to do so
Barton v Morris: Sarah Allan & Chris Ward consider the Supreme Court’s reminder that ‘unjust enrichment mends no-one’s bargain’
Maria Nizzero sets out the complexities of possibly using seized sanctions assets to fund reconstruction in Ukraine
How much change will the fire & rehire code deliver? Charles Pigott assesses the government’s draft code of practice
David Walbank KC examines the relevance of gender identity within the context of extradition requests
MOVERS & SHAKERS
Bellevue Law—Lianne Craig
Workplace law firm expands commercial disputes team with senior consultant hire
EIP—Rob Barker
IP firm promotes patent attorney to partner
Muckle LLP—Ryan Butler
Banking and restructuring team bolstered by insolvency specialist
NEWS
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
Recent allegations surrounding Peter Mandelson and Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor have reignited scrutiny of the ancient common law offence of misconduct in public office. Writing in NLJ this week, Simon Parsons, teaching fellow at Bath Spa University, asks whether their conduct could clear a notoriously high legal hurdle
A landmark ruling has reshaped child clinical negligence claims. Writing in NLJ this week, Jodi Newton, head of birth and paediatric negligence at Osbornes Law, explains how the Supreme Court in CCC v Sheffield Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust [2026] UKSC 5 has overturned Croke v Wiseman, ending the long-standing bar on children recovering ‘lost years’ earnings
A Court of Appeal ruling has drawn a firm line under party autonomy in arbitration. Writing in NLJ this week, Masood Ahmed, associate professor at the University of Leicester, analyses Gluck v Endzweig [2026] EWCA Civ 145, where a clause allowing arbitrators to amend an award ‘at any time’ was held incompatible with the Arbitration Act 1996
Copyright © 2026 LexisNexis
