THIS ISSUE
Corporate foundations are popular vehicles for businesses to support their ESG (environmental, social and governance) commitments. But how do you make sure a foundation is right for your business, and when might alternatives such as becoming a B Corp or partnering with an existing charity be more suitable?
Volunteers are akin to employees when it comes to vicarious liability, the Supreme Court held in Trustees of the Barry Congregation of Jehovah’s Witnesses v BXB
The number of wills and inheritance disputes has risen in recent years
The COVID inquiry, chaired by Baroness Hallett, has been beset by ‘an esoteric dispute’ with the government over the withholding of documents and information, John Gould, senior partner, Russell-Cooke, writes in this week’s NLJ
Who gets to decide what information the COVID inquiry should see? John Gould suggests that the government, by objecting to handing over material, may have forgotten its proper role in supporting the work of a public inquiry
A financial claim in divorce cannot proceed if one spouse dies, the Supreme Court has held
Law practices are prime targets for cyber criminals due to their handling of highly confidential, commercially sensitive and often personal information, a major report by the National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC) has highlighted
Fees for attending meetings with case managers cannot be included in a costs budget, the High Court has held
The overrepresentation of Black, Asian and minority ethnic solicitors in complaints about solicitors may be due to conscious and unconscious perceptions or expectations on the part of those making the complaints, a review has suggested
The Countess of Wemyss, Amanda Fielding has lost her appeal against an art dealer over a painting sold for £1.15m that later re-sold for £8m more
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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