THIS ISSUE
Law reform to give more rights to cohabiting couples has been on the campaign agenda for a long time, but is a blanket approach best? In this week’s NLJ, Caroline Bowden, consultant at Anthony Gold, looks at the difference between couples who have chosen not to legally regulate their relationship, and those where one partner has economic power and the other does not.
We need robust new legislation to tackle the online advertising of prostitution, writes Lesley Manley
Most documentary evidence is in digital format, mainly stored in cloud-based platforms, but is the new model search and imaging order, which came into force in April, fit for purpose? In this week’s NLJ, Mary Young, partner, Kingsley Napley, considers this question in depth.
A waste of time or due process? Neil Parpworth reports on the Lords debating the Lords
Caroline Bowden sets out the need for cohabitation reform—for some couples but not others
The new model search & imaging order lacks the clarity needed for the digital age, argues Mary Young
Whistleblowing protection is inching forward with judicial help, writes Charles Pigott—but reform is still needed
Could we soon be tapping out wills on our phones, ask Brendan Udokoro & Kiera Quinn
Electronic wills—inevitable in a digital era, or an abomination liable to wreak fraudulent chaos? In this week’s NLJ, Brendan Udokoro, associate, and Kiera Quinn, associate (New Zealand qualified), Howard Kennedy, examine the pros and cons, risks and rewards of allowing people to tap out their will on their phone or laptop.
MOVERS & SHAKERS
NLJ Career Profile: Daniel Burbeary, Michelman Robinson
Daniel Burbeary, office managing partner of Michelman Robinson, discusses launching in London, the power of the law, and what the kitchen can teach us about litigating
Joelson—Jennifer Mansoor
West End firm strengthens employment and immigration team with partner hire
JMW—Belinda Brooke
Employment and people solutions offering boosted by partner hire
NEWS
A seemingly dry procedural update may prove potent. In his latest 'Civil way' column for NLJ this week, Stephen Gold explains that new CPR 31.12A—part of the 193rd update—fills a ‘lacuna’ exposed in McLaren Indy v Alpa Racing
The long-running Mazur saga edged towards its finale as the Court of Appeal heard arguments on whether non-solicitors can ‘conduct litigation’. Writing in NLJ this week, Professor Dominic Regan of City Law School reports from a packed courtroom where 16 wigs watched Nick Bacon KC argue that Mr Justice Sheldon had failed to distinguish between ‘tasks and responsibilities’
The Court of Appeal has slammed the brakes on claimants trying to swap defendants after limitation has expired. In Adcamp LLP v Office Properties and BDB Pitmans v Lee [2026] EWCA Civ 50, it overturned High Court rulings that had allowed substitutions under s 35(6)(b) of the Limitation Act 1980, reports Sarah Crowther of DAC Beachcroft in this week's NLJ
Cheating in driving tests is surging—and courts are responding firmly. Writing in NLJ this week, Neil Parpworth of De Montfort Law School charts a rise in impersonation and tech-assisted fraud, with 2,844 attempts recorded in a year
As AI-generated ‘deepfake’ images proliferate, the law may already have the tools to respond. In NLJ this week, Jon Belcher of Excello Law argues that such images amount to personal data processing under UK GDPR
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