Norwegian teenage hitman hired for UK murder by Iran-backed crime gang jailed for 20 years – The Guardian

Posted October 16th, 2026 in news by michael

‘A teenage hitman who travelled from Norway to the UK with the intention of carrying out a murder on behalf of an Iran-backed international crime gang has been jailed for 20 years.’

Full Story

The Guardian, 16th October 2026

Source: www.theguardian.com

BAILII: Recent Decisions

Posted October 16th, 2026 in law reports by michael

Court of Appeal (Civil Division)

Bunting v Revenue and Customs [2026] EWCA Civ 1331 (16 October 2026)

Court of Appeal (Criminal Division)

Hindley, R. v [2026] EWCA Crim 1336 (16 October 2026)

High Court (Administrative Court)

EXR, R (On the Application Of) v Secretary of State for the Home Department (No.3) [2026] EWHC 2527 (Admin) (16 October 2026)

High Court (Business & Property Division)

3Kings Holdings Ltd v TCF 1 GP Ltd [2026] EWHC 2620 (BP) (16 October 2026)

Fairmead Insurance Ltd & Ors, In the Matter Of [2026] EWHC 2644 (BP) (16 October 2026)

Exeter City Council v Macklin & Anor [2026] EWHC 2636 (BP) (16 October 2026)

Amber Construction Services Ltd v Ilyrian Construction Ltd [2026] EWHC 2603 (BP) (16 October 2026)

High Court (Commercial Court)

Stor RB One Ltd v Kanthasamy [2026] EWHC 2625 (Comm) (16 October 2026)

FW Aviation (Holdings) 1 Ltd v VietJet Aviation Joint Stock Company [2026] EWHC 2633 (Comm) (15 October 2026)

High Court (Technology and Construction Court) 

Avanton Capital CC Ltd v LUC Construction Ltd [2026] EWHC 2630 (TCC) (15 October 2026)

Source: www.bailii.org

High Court dismisses conspiracy and trust claims against solicitors: East-West United Bank S.A. v Gusinski & Ors – Blackstone Chambers

Posted October 16th, 2026 in news by michael

‘The dispute arose from a defaulted loan facility to a company in Mr Gusinski’s New Media Group and a subsequent LCIA arbitration in 2018 against five guarantor companies. GSC acted for the guarantors in the arbitration and Barbara Dohmann KC appeared as leading counsel. In a claim brought in 2021, the Bank alleged that GSC and Mr Samuels had joined an unlawful means conspiracy orchestrated by their client, Mr Gusinski, to delay and ultimately avoid repaying the Bank. The Bank alleged that they did so principally by (i) advancing an allegedly unarguable Defence and Cross-Claim in the arbitration; and (ii) making representations on instructions to the arbitral tribunal about the availability of a US$5.2 million judgment sum held in GSC’s client account. The Bank also claimed that submissions made in support of a staged payment award had given it a proprietary interest in US$4.75 million of that judgment sum and on that basis also brought claims for breach of trust, knowing receipt and dishonest assistance.’

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Blackstone Chambers, 8th October 2026

Source: www.blackstonechambers.com

Rule of Law Conversations Episode 1 – In Conversation with Professor Sir Jeffrey Jowell KC: Part 1

Posted October 16th, 2026 in news by michael

‘In this episode, Naina and Sir Jeffrey explore the notion of the rule of law, what it means to Sir Jeffrey personally, and the extent to which it is universal. They discuss the ideas that have shaped his thinking on this topic and chart the start of his journey into this area, from his early experiences in South Africa into academia. Their conversation offers a fascinating insight into Sir Jeffrey’s evolving thinking on this fundamental principle of public law.’

Full Story

Blackstone Chambers, 15th October 2026

Source: www.blackstonechambers.com

Open Justice and the Principle of Legality – Administrative Court Blog

Posted October 16th, 2026 in news by michael

‘It is well-known that in the case of R (UNISON) v Lord Chancellor [2017] UKSC 51, the Supreme Court ruled that general language in primary legislation should not be taken to authorise the adoption of secondary legislation which interferes with fundamental common law rights.’

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Administrative Court Blog, 15th October 2026

Source: administrativecourtblog.wordpress.com

London couple lose boundary fight over 48cm of land after neighbours’ kitchen found to have ‘squatters’ rights’ – The Inependent

Posted October 16th, 2026 in news by michael

‘A business power couple have lost a four-year boundary battle over a 48cm “sliver” of land after trying to force their neighbours to demolish the kitchen wall of their £600,000 house.’

Full Story

The Independent, 16th October 2026

Source: www.independent.co.uk

AI can interrogate your contracts – but are they ready for questioning? – Legal Futures

Posted October 16th, 2026 in news by michael

‘Suppose a general counsel wants the total liability exposure on every client contract signed in the past three years, or a law firm wants to review a client’s entire real estate portfolio for risk in the leases.

Not long ago, that meant a multi-week project. Today, first-pass answer can arrive in minutes. Connectors built on open standards like the model context protocol (MCP) now let AI agents query governed document stores directly, so a question that once triggered a lengthy, in-depth project gets answered instantly.’

Full Story

Legal Futures, 15th October 2026

Source: www.legalfutures.co.uk

Met Police ordered to reinvestigate Graham Linehan’s coplaint of ‘gender-critical discrimination’ – The Independent

Posted October 16th, 2026 in news by michael

‘The Metropolitan Police has been ordered to re-examine a complaint from Graham Linehan after a police watchdog found that it was handled inadequately.’

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The Independent, 15th October 2026

Source: www.independent.co.uk

Trans women no longer to be placed on female-only wards under new NHS England guidance – The Guardian

Posted October 16th, 2026 in news by michael

‘The new rules, published on Thursday [15th October], mean single-sex wards, toilets and changing rooms will be used by people based on their biological sex, not their gender identity.’

Full Story

The Guardian, 15th October 2026

Source: www.theguardian.com

Resolving disputes: a framework for holistic reform – Nuffield Foundation

Posted October 16th, 2026 in news by Lily

‘This report sets out a vision of what a justice system should be in the twenty-first century. The main focus is on civil and administrative justice, namely disputes among people, or between people and businesses or the state, including consumer, family, housing, property and employment disputes.’

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Nuffield Foundation, 15th October 2026

Source: www.nuffieldfoundation.org

News focus In depth: Whistleblowing – sensible pragmatism or moral hazard? – Law Society Gazette

Posted October 16th, 2026 in news by Lily

‘A Serious Fraud Office incentive scheme for corporate whistleblowers proposed by the government – something former director Nick Ephgrave pushed for during his tenure – has prompted mixed responses from the legal profession. Though many seem intrigued by the concept of US-style rewards for reporting economic crime, others have questions.’

Full Story

Law Society Gazette, 16th October 2026

Source: www.lawgazette.co.uk

New law could see children taught how to stop ‘life-threatening bleeding’ after stabbings and car crashes – The Independent

Posted October 16th, 2026 in news by Lily

‘Schoolchildren could be taught how to treat severe bleeding following stabbings or car crashes if a proposed new law successfully passes through Parliament.’

Full Story

The Independent, 16th October 2026

Source: www.independent.co.uk

Court payout for ‘squatter’ in iconic London venue after owner began demolition with him asleep inside – The Independent

Posted October 16th, 2026 in news by Lily

‘A squatter living in an iconic London music venue has won a damages payout for “harassment” after the owner began demolishing the building while he was asleep in bed inside.’

Full Story

The Independent, 16th October 2026

Source: www.independent.co.uk

Jamaica says slavery reparations petition to be heard by UK privy council in March 2027 – The Guardian

Posted October 16th, 2026 in news by Lily

‘A high-level United Kingdom appeals court has set a date to hear Jamaica’s petition for legal advice on its claim for slavery reparations from the UK, the Jamaican government has said.’

Full Story

The Guardian, 16th October 2026

Source: www.theguardian.com

Met needs to move away from criminalising sex workers, officers say after Levy failings – BBC News

Posted October 16th, 2026 in news by Lily

‘The Met need to move away from criminalising women involved in street sex work in the wake of the Simon Levy case, officers have told the BBC.’

Full Story

BBC News, 16th October 2026

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

UK law could deny Fayed accusers recognition as victims of human trafficking – The Guardian

Posted October 16th, 2026 in news by Lily

‘Survivors of sexual violence could wrongly be denied recognition as victims of human trafficking under credibility tests in a new UK law, the independent anti-slavery commissioner has warned.’

Full Story

The Guardian, 16th October 2026

Source: www.theguardian.com

Crime and Policing Act 2026: Offences relating to pornography – Ministry of Justice

Posted October 16th, 2026 in news by Lily

‘The government recognises the harm that some forms of pornography can have in shaping real-world behaviour, including by normalising harmful or illegal sexual behaviour. That is why it has criminalised the possession and publication of particularly harmful forms of pornography, including material depicting strangulation or suffocation, sex between certain relatives (‘incest porn’), and adults roleplaying as children under 16. These offences tackle pornography that risks normalising conduct that is harmful or illegal in real life, such as child sexual abuse.’

Full Story

Ministry of Justice, 16th October 2026

Source: www.gov.uk

BAILII: Recent Decisions

Posted October 15th, 2026 in law reports by michael

Court of Appeal (Civil Division)

Secretary of State for the Home Department v Hossain [2026] EWCA Civ 1310 (15 October 2026)

Court of Appeal (Criminal Division)

Mohammed, R. v [2026] EWCA Crim 1330 (15 October 2026)

High Court (Administrative Court)

Mozolevsky, R (On the Application Of) v The County Court at Newcastle Upon Tyne [2026] EWHC 2639 (Admin) (15 October 2026)

Hall v Secretary of State for the Environment Food and Rural Affairs [2026] EWHC 2623 (Admin) (14 October 2026)

KGT & Ors v Secretary of State for the Home Department [2026] EWHC 2583 (Admin) (14 October 2026)

High Court (Business & Property Division)

Isbilen v Turk & Ors [2026] EWHC 2635 (BP) (15 October 2026)

Begg v Wood & Ors [2026] EWHC 2622 (BP) (14 October 2026)

A & Ors v E [2026] EWHC 2590 (BP) (13 October 2026)

ASGC Holding LLC & Ors v Innovo Holding Ltd & Ors [2026] EWHC 2538 (BP) (09 October 2026)

Moller & Ors v One Touch Solution Ltd (In CVL) & Anor [2026] EWHC 2559 (BP) (09 October 2026)

Secretary of State for Business and Trade v Davies [2026] EWHC 2563 (BP) (09 October 2026)

Shaw v Coleman Capital LLP (in Liquidation) & Ors [2026] EWHC 2546 (BP) (09 October 2026)

Kudos 2024 Ltd v Karia & Ors (Re Chemilines Group Holdings Ltd) [2026] EWHC 2534 (BP) (08 October 2026)

Bourlakova & Anor v The Estate of Oleg Bourlakov & Ors [2026] EWHC 2548 (BP) (08 October 2026)

AirX Jet Support Ltd & Anor v London Jet Centre (Stanstead) Ltd & Anor [2026] EWHC 2558 (BP) (08 October 2026)

East-West United Bank SA v Gusinski & Ors [2026] EWHC 2550 (BP) (08 October 2026)

B&Q Ltd v Wren Kitchens Ltd [2026] EWHC 2552 (BP) (08 October 2026)

IDCV CU FT3 K/S & Ors v Curve OS Group Ltd & Ors [2026] EWHC 2542 (BP) (07 October 2026)

Koza Ltd, In the Matter Of [2026] EWHC 2528 (BP) (06 October 2026)

Mark Capital Management Ltd v Ares Management LLC & Ors [2026] EWHC 2531 (BP) (05 October 2026)

High Court (Commercial Court)

Central Termica De Temane SA v Banco Santander S.A. [2026] EWHC 2587 (Comm) (13 October 2026)

STN v POR [2026] EWHC 2585 (Comm) (13 October 2026)

Stonegate Farmers Ltd v Heavey [2026] EWHC 2519 (Comm) (09 October 2026)

High Court (Technology and Construction Court) 

Avanton Capital CC Ltd v LUC Construction Ltd [2026] EWHC 2630 (TCC) (15 October 2026)

Source: www.bailii.org

Revamped Courts and Tribunals Bill passes crucial hurdle – Law Society Gazette

Posted October 15th, 2026 in news by Simon

‘The Courts and Tribunals Bill will now head to the House of Lords after the government managed to get the proposed legislation – now revamped following a partial U-turn on jury trial reforms – through the House of Commons yesterday.’

Full Story

Law Society Gazette, 14th October 2026

Source: www.lawgazette.co.uk

Very few legal professionals know what they can legally copy and paste – Law Society Gazette

Posted October 15th, 2026 in news by Simon

‘Nearly three-quarters of legal professionals think they know what content they can legally copy at work – but only 2% actually do, according to research published by the Copyright Licensing Agency.’

Full Story

Law Society Gazette, 15th October 2026

Source: www.lawgazette.co.uk