THIS ISSUE
Richard Scorer reflects on the conclusions of the Thirlwall Inquiry & warns against repeating past inaction
If the essence of a contentious business agreement is certainty, why are we still confused? Victoria Morrison-Hughes
A divorced woman has secured funding to participate in her former husband’s inquest after the Legal Aid Agency reconsidered repeated refusals
The Thirlwall Inquiry has exposed a ‘complete failure’ to protect babies at the Countess of Chester Hospital, but its recommendations must now be put into practice
Developers in areas with poorly performing councils can apply directly to the Planning Inspectorate for permission under section 62A of the Town and Country Planning Act 1990
MPs cannot simply resign their Commons seats. Instead, they take a nominal Crown office, usually the Chiltern Hundreds or Manor of Northstead, which disqualifies them from sitting
Neil Parpworth traces the history of the constitutional & controversial device that enables MPs to resign
Section 62A: Joel Semakula & David Poole track the pros & cons of taking this alternative route to securing planning permission
When does a solicitor’s retainer become a contentious business agreement? The Court of Appeal’s decision in Broadfield Law UK LLP v Barnes shows that listing hourly rates alone will not do, leaving firms and clients uncertain about their rights over bills
MOVERS & SHAKERS
Fieldfisher—Will Sharp
Fieldfisher boosts structured finance practice with appointment of Will Sharp
gunnercooke—Thomas Bjorn & Peter Rudd-Clarke
gunnercooke grows its life sciences team with new partner hires
Leonard Curtis Legal—Mark Maguire & Kane Jones
Leonard Curtis Legal expands corporate team with twonew appointments
NEWS
The Attorney General, Ellie Reeves KC MP, and Solicitor General, Andy Slaughter KC MP, marked the 25th anniversary of Pro Bono Week by joining lawyers, charities, students and parliamentarians at events celebrating voluntary legal work
An indemnity costs battle with a £20m gap could reopen an important question: what weight should an approved budget carry?
The Environment Agency can prosecute offences beyond environmental legislation where proceedings support its statutory functions, the Divisional Court has confirmed
Should a conviction stand when a later ruling reveals that the law underpinning it was wrong? The answer exposes a clash between finality and justice
Witness evidence can be compromised by AI before a solicitor sees the draft, leaving safeguards focused on authorship incomplete
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