THIS ISSUE
The law of England and Wales is well placed—with some minor reform and development—to secure the UK’s position as a global crypto hub, the Law Commission has concluded
Permission has been granted for a legal challenge against the Ministry of Justice (MoJ) for failing to raise solicitors’ criminal defence rates by the minimum 15% recommended by Lord Bellamy’s independent review on criminal legal aid
A young man with autism has won his case that the cost of activities related to a daily social and life skills group should be deemed disability related expenditure (DRE) and cannot be ignored when calculating how much he should pay towards the cost of his care
The Solicitors Regulatory Authority (SRA) has proposed a 12% rise in its budget, which is mainly funded through solicitors’ practising certificate fees collected in October
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
Copyright © 2025 LexisNexis
