Category: news

‘Section 179 of the Data Protection Act (DPA) 2018 places the Secretary of State under a duty to ensure that a Report is “la[id] before Parliament” on both the “use” and “effectiveness” of “relevant alternative dispute resolution procedures” in cases involving actual or alleged failures by media organisations, other than broadcasters, “to comply with the data protection legislation”. Such a duty applies at the end of a repeating three-year period. The procedures to be reported on are those provided by “persons who produce or enforce codes of practice” for such media organisations and are “alternative” in the sense of being extra-judicial. This duty was proposed after the Independent Press Standards Organisation (IPSO) – the principal self-regulator of the Press – stated (following Government pressure) that it would introduce a ‘compulsory’ arbitration procedure covering data protection.’

Full Story

UK Constitutional Law Association, 3rd February 2026

Source: ukconstitutionallaw.org

‘This briefing sets out the international and UK law on genocide and discusses recent cases on this issue. There will be a general debate on obligation to assess the risk of genocide under international law in relation to the Occupied Palestinian Territories in the Commons chamber on Thursday 5 February 2026.’

Full Story

House of Commons Library, 3rd February 2026

Source: commonslibrary.parliament.uk

‘In the recent case of R (Tasib) v Secretary of State for the Home Department [2026] EWHC 139 (Admin) (28 January 2026) the High Court (Farbey J) had an opportunity to consider the contours of the principle of legality in the context of immigration law. The claimant in this case is a Pakistani national who lived in the UK for over 25 years, until the Secretary of State made the decision to exclude him from the country in June 2025. As a result, he was prohibited from entering the UK. The claimant sought to challenge that decision before the High Court on six distinct grounds. This post focuses on just one of those grounds: that the scheme under which the exclusion decision was made was unlawful for being ultra vires the parent legislation which authorised it.’

Full Story

Administrative Court Blog, 3rd February 2026

Source: administrativecourtblog.wordpress.com

‘A leading City law firm’s stated commitment to inclusion and diversity was not always reflected in how it dealt with a law student’s application for a training contract, an employment tribunal has ruled.’

Full Story

Legal Futures, 4th February 2026

Source: www.legalfutures.co.uk

‘The jailing of a man for handling more than half a million pounds worth of stolen turkey and chicken highlights the regulatory drive for ensuring UK consumers have trust in their food supply, according to an expert.’

Full Story

OUT-LAW.com, 3rd February 2026

Source: www.pinsentmasons.com

‘A new post of prime minister’s criminal justice adviser and the widespread use of remote hearings are among the recommendations of a government-commissioned independent review on tackling the courts’ backlog in England and Wales.’

Full Story

The Guardian, 4th February 2026

Source: www.theguardian.com

‘In England and Wales, a company can enter an insolvency process/procedure known as ‘administration’. One of the ways a company may be put into administration- that is, have administrators appointed over the company – is by the holder of a qualifying floating charge over (all, or substantially all) the company’s assets, exercising a power under the Insolvency Act 1986, Schedule B1, paragraph 14, to so appoint. Such an appointment of administrators occurs ‘out of court’ (i.e. not by court order), and, is categorised as a method of ‘enforcement’.’

Full Story

33 Bedford Row, 18th January 2026

Source: www.33bedfordrow.co.uk

‘The decision of Sheldon J in Mazur v Charles Russell Speechlys [2025] EWHC 2341 (KB) has generated significant concern within the legal profession, particularly in firms that rely on supervised paralegals. Although the Judgment addresses a relatively narrow statutory question concerning the right to conduct litigation its implications for day‑to‑day litigation practice are widespread. This article provides a summary of the Judgment and identifies the practical issues that now arise.’

Full Story

39 Essex Chambers, 20th January 2026

Source: www.39essex.com

‘The decision in OS v DT [2025] EWFC 156 (B), given by HHJ Hess and certified as citable, marks a significant development in child maintenance law where parents share the care of their children “exactly equally”.’

Full Story

Becket Chambers, 12th January 2026

Source: becket-chambers.co.uk

‘Maria Karaiskos KC and Charlie Hutchins introduce the fundamentals of cryptocurrency and crypto assets and examine how crypto operates in practice, the developing UK regulatory framework, and the expanding powers around crypto assets under POCA.’

Full Story

Church Court Chambers, 2nd January 2026

Source: churchcourtchambers.co.uk

‘The first stage of a major reformation of the relationship between employers and trade unions in the UK, which will begin its phased implementation later this month, will increase exposure for companies including those which have not previously engaged in industrial relations, according to an expert.’

Full Story

OUT-LAW.com, 2nd February 2026

Source: www.pinsentmasons.com

‘A shortage of mental health beds and poor communication between agencies contributed to the death of a teenage girl on hospital grounds, an inquest has found.’

Full Story

The Guardian, 2nd February 2026

Source: www.theguardian.com

‘In Smithstone, the Court of Appeal addressed a key point of principle and uncertainty concerning cost consequences for liability-only Part 36 offers and marked a significant development for practitioners. The Court confirmed that Part 36 costs consequences can indeed be triggered by liability-only Part 36 offers, overturning and clarifying the position outlined in Mundy v TUI UK Ltd [2023] EWHC 385 (Ch). This decision is likely to prompt a rise in the use of such offers.’

Full Story

1 QMLR.2nd February 2026

Source: 1corqmlr.com

‘A driver who killed a man and mowed down four others in a drink-fuelled rampage in London’s West End in the early hours of Christmas Day 2024 has been jailed for life with a minimum sentence of 37 years.’

Full Story

BBC News, 30th January 2026

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

‘Join barrister Adam Pipe for an hour-long webinar for DG Legal reviewing developments in UK immigration law during 2025, covering Immigration Rules changes, Home Office policy papers, key case law, and practical implications for advising clients and litigation practice.’

Full Story

EIN Blog, 30th January 2026

Source: www.ein.org.uk

‘A criticism often levelled at the law surrounding modern parenthood is that it has failed to keep pace with societal and technological change. The law is failing to remain fit for purpose for modern families. This can lead to practitioners having to find solutions to problems created by unforeseen gaps in the law, effectively making the law with each new case. For those who turn to the law to resolve a deeply personal issue, it is a distressing and uncertain landscape.’

Full Story

Law Society's Gazette, 30th January 2026

Source: www.lawgazette.co.uk

‘2026 is shaping up to be the most consequential year for UK data protection enforcement since the introduction of the EU/UK GDPR regime. With record fines issued in late 2025, a new enforcement playbook on the horizon, and shifting legislative and regulatory expectations, the Information Commissioner’s Office (“ICO”) is signalling a marked transformation in how it supervises and sanctions organisations.’

Full Story

Kingsley Napley Corporate and Commercial Law Blog, 28th January 2026

Source: www.kingsleynapley.co.uk

‘Sex Matters is a campaigning organisation which was set up in 2021 and which, controversially, obtained charitable status in 2024. Its stated objectives are to “promote human rights where they relate to sex”, “advance education about sex and the law” and to “promote the sound administration of the law in relation to sex and equality in the law”. However, its recent campaigns have focused almost exclusively against the inclusion of trans women in single sex spaces.’

Full Story

Administrative Court Blog, 29th January 2026

Source: administrativecourtblog.wordpress.com

‘Four daughters have successfully challenged their “domineering” aunt in a court battle over the £1 million estate of their eccentric father, a man described as a “son of the Forest”.’

Full Story

The Independent, 30th January 2026

Source: www.independent.co.uk

‘Family dynamics are complex at the best of times. When one family member is unwell, stress and worry can quickly lead to friction and mistrust among siblings and parents alike.’

Full Story

Kingsley Napley Family Law Blog, 29th January 2026

Source: www.kingsleynapley.co.uk