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THIS ISSUE
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Issue: Vol 175, Issue 8129

05 September 2025
IN THIS ISSUE
Why It’s Time to Challenge Your PII Broker
Thomas Rothwell & Kavish Shah report on the surprising introduction of downward rent reviews
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
As the Bill nears the end of its journey in the Lords, Charles Pigott predicts its future
Akshay Misra & Bronagh Adams on how a recent judgment provides a robust endorsement of the work of the LMAA
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
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
Sam Karim KC & Sophie Hurst on why the Court of Protection has reaffirmed that capacity must be presumed unless clearly rebutted
Sadie Whittam considers the growing use of SLAPPs & the abuse of the litigation process
Lawyers can no longer afford to ignore the metaverse, says Jacqueline Watts of Allin1 Advisory in this week's NLJ. Far from being a passing tech fad, virtual platforms like Roblox host thriving economies and social interactions, raising real legal issues
Writing in NLJ this week, Thomas Rothwell and Kavish Shah of Falcon Chambers unpack the surprise inclusion of a ban on upwards-only rent reviews in the English Devolution and Community Empowerment Bill
From the wreck of the Titanic to looted treasure, Michael L Nash considers the complexities that separate possession from ownership
Dominic Regan reports on traffic jams in the county court, delays across the board & the headline action of 2026
Access to AI risks entrenching disadvantage for SME law firms. Robert Taylor sets out the tools they need—& how to find them
As virtual worlds continue to expand, so do the avenues for legal disputes within them: Jacqueline Watts explains why lawyers should get to grips with the metaverse
Six out of ten lawyers now use artificial intelligence (AI) in their day-to-day work (up from 46% in January), according to a LexisNexis UK report, ‘The AI culture clash’
The Court of Appeal has confirmed the judiciary’s discretion to grant anonymity orders to vulnerable claimants in personal injury claims, in a landmark judgment
Law firms are failing to protect clients’ best interests in high-volume no-win no-fee claims, regulators have warned
Judges have lifted an interim injunction on asylum seekers being housed at the Bell Hotel, Epping, and held the Home Office and hotel owners can intervene in the case
Costs lawyers could become judges and would be recognised as higher fee earners in the guideline hourly rates, under proposals set out by their professional body
The Serious Fraud Office (SFO) has said a further five LIBOR convictions may be unsafe, following the Supreme Court appeals in July that quashed the 2015 convictions of former traders Tom Hayes and Carlo Palombo
Large companies and organisations risk hefty fines if their compliance procedures are not up to scratch, as of this week
The government is reviewing opt-out collective proceedings before the process has had a chance to ‘bed in’, a leading litigation lawyer has warned
The Law Commission has issued a call for evidence on murder and manslaughter laws, in its first major review of the area in 20 years
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MOVERS & SHAKERS

Weightmans—Elborne Mitchell & Myton Law

Weightmans—Elborne Mitchell & Myton Law

Firm expands in London and Leeds with dual merger

Boodle Hatfield—Clare Pooley & Michael Duffy

Boodle Hatfield—Clare Pooley & Michael Duffy

Private wealth and real estate firmpromotes two to partner and five to senior associate

Constantine Law—James Baker & Julie Goodway

Constantine Law—James Baker & Julie Goodway

Agile firm expands employment team with two partner hires

NEWS

From blockbuster judgments to procedural shake-ups, the courts are busy reshaping litigation practice. Writing in NLJ this week, Professor Dominic Regan of City Law School hails the Court of Appeal's 'exquisite judgment’ in Mazur restoring the role of supervised non-qualified staff, and highlights a ‘mammoth’ damages ruling likened to War and Peace, alongside guidance on medical reporting fees, where a pragmatic 25% uplift was imposed

Momentum is building behind proposals to restrict children’s access to social media—but the legal and practical challenges are formidable. In NLJ this week, Nick Smallwood of Mills & Reeve examines global moves, including Australia’s under-16 ban and the UK's consultation
Reforms designed to rebalance landlord-tenant relations may instead penalise leaseholders themselves. In this week's NLJ, Mike Somekh of The Freehold Collective warns that the Leasehold and Freehold Reform Act 2024 risks creating an ‘underclass’ of resident-controlled freehold companies
Timing is everything—and the Court of Appeal has delivered clarity on when proceedings are ‘brought’. In his latest 'Civil way' column for NLJ, Stephen Gold explains that a claim is issued for limitation purposes when the claim form is delivered to the court, even if fees are underpaid
The traditional ‘single, intensive day’ of financial dispute resolution (FDR) may be due for a rethink. Writing in NLJ this week, Rachel Frost-Smith and Lauren Guiler of Birketts propose a ‘split FDR’ model, separating judicial evaluation from negotiation
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