THIS ISSUE
Dr Ping-fat Sze examines the reviewability of prosecutorial decisions, & the effect on access to justice
When is security deemed received—on payment or on receipt of cleared funds? Avneet Baryan examines the case law
Rachel Davenport, Co-founder and Director at AlphaBiolabs, breaks down everything you need to know about AlphaBiolabs’ industry-leading laboratory testing services for legal matters.
Marc Mason explores the benefits of a more reflective form of supervision for lawyers & their clients
A rise in nuisance claims against water utilities and in silicosis claims are among the insurance predictions for 2025.
The Lord Chancellor Shabana Mahmood has raised the personal injury discount rate (PIDR)—used by the courts to calculate lump sum awards for long-term injuries—from -0.25% to 0.5%.
Few costs lawyers have seen any reduction in disputes between solicitors and their clients despite the ruling in Belsner, the Association of Costs Lawyers (ACL) annual members survey has found.
Competition law and litigation solicitor Lucy Rigby, a former partner at Hausfeld, has been appointed Solicitor General, replacing Sarah Sackman KC, who replaces Heidi Alexander as justice minister for the courts, legal aid and civil justice in a mini-shuffle announced this week.
MPs have voted 330-275 to pass the Terminally Ill (End of Life) Bill’s second reading, a private member’s bill brought by Kim Leadbeater MP
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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