THIS ISSUE
The courts have drawn a firm line under attempts to extend arbitration appeals. Writing in NLJ this week, Masood Ahmed of the University of Leicester highlights that if the High Court refuses permission under s 68 of the Arbitration Act 1996, that is the end
Tightening the prosecution test, not curbing jury trials, could stem the flow of weak cases overwhelming the crown court, argues David Wolchover
Artificial intelligence (AI) is rapidly reshaping day-to-day legal work, but are qualification rules lagging behind? In NLJ this week, Dr Alan Ma of Birmingham City University argues the SQE ignores a crucial modern skill: ‘digital judgement’
Masood Ahmed explores constraints on the Court of Appeal’s powers with regard to arbitral awards
Serial sperm donor Robert Albon has lost his bid for a declaration of paternity, ‘on the ground that to grant it would manifestly be contrary to public policy’
The government is considering wholesale reform of consumer class actions—the ‘opt-out’ collective claims certified by the Competition Appeals Tribunal (CAT)
A ‘sophisticated suspected fraud’ may have taken place at PM Law involving the improper removal and misuse of about £39.5m of client funds, the Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA) has confirmed
The Serious Fraud Office (SFO) will invest in technology to catch tech-reliant fraudsters and handle voluminous case materials
Law firms enjoyed rapid
growth in 2025, according
to a Financial Benchmarking
Survey, published by the Law
Society last week
The Legal Services Board (LSB) aims to reduce burdens on well-performing regulators and will pursue an intelligence-led, risk-based and targeted approach to oversight, its business plan for 2026–27, published this week, reveals
MOVERS & SHAKERS
Flint Bishop—Charlotte Harris
Sheffield expansion continues with appointment of commercial property partner
Browne Jacobson—Paul Duggan
Browne Jacobson strengthens banking and finance practice with latest partner appointment Paul Duggan
Ward Hadaway—Chris Piggott
Employment partner joins Ward Hadaway
NEWS
The Law Society RFC Festival of Sport returns next month, bringing together legal and financial services professionals for one of the sector’s largest annual sporting events
Legal aid deserts leave almost one in four without adequate access to justice
The Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA) has warned solicitors and law firms that using artificial intelligence does not alter their professional obligations, amid concerns over inaccurate legal material and client confidentiality
Can a meticulously maintained spreadsheet turn a couple’s informal financial arrangements into legally enforceable obligations?
A significant High Court decision has provided welcome clarification on how far legal advice privilege can extend within large corporate organisations
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