Fentanyl ‘serial killer’ review closed by police – BBC News
‘Detectives have closed a review into whether fentanyl murderer Luke D’Wit was a serial killer, the BBC can reveal.’
BBC News, 21st August 2026
Source: www.bbc.co.uk
Category: news
Menon speaks out over “chilling” contempt prosecution – Legal Futures
‘The KC facing contempt of court proceedings for his closing speech has broken his silence to warn about the “chilling effect” his case is having on criminal defence lawyers.’
Legal Futures, 20th August 2026
Source: www.legalfutures.co.uk
Carrying the (pro bono) load – Counsel
‘Not every case changes you. This one did, says Amiot Vollenweider, who explains how he accommodated, pro bono, one of the longest-running divorces in English legal history into his practice – and what he gained.’
Counsel, 17th August 2026
Source: www.counselmagazine.co.uk
Reviewing the minimum age of criminal responsibility – Counsel
‘In January, I set up a working group with experts across law, neuroscience, psychiatry and psychology to ask the question: is society best served by bringing children, who are alleged to have committed offences, within the criminal justice system, or can the aims of the state in relation to these children be better met by some other means?’
Counsel, 17th August 2026
Source: www.counselmagazine.co.uk
Speech by the Master of the Rolls: John Lehane Memorial Lecture – Courts and Tribunals Judiciary
‘The implications of the development of artificial intelligence on the judiciary and the legal profession’
Courts and Tribunals Judiciary, 18th August 2026
Source: www.judiciary.uk
Police forces must make sure there is clear senior oversight for staff using Facial Recognition Technology: ICO – Local Government Lawyer
‘The Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO) has this week (18 August) published a new report outlining its expectations for the responsible use of facial recognition technology (FRT) by law enforcement, including the need for “lawful, proportionate and accountable deployment” supported by effective safeguards.’
Local Government Lawyer, 19th August 2026
Source: www.localgovernmentlawyer.co.uk
Interference with medical equipment – Local Governement Lawyer
‘James Norman looks at the lessons from a recent case where the local authority contended that the threshold criteria were satisfied on the basis of actions of the mother toward her son during his treatment in hospital.’
Local Government Lawyer, 19th August 2026
Source: www.localgovernmentlawyer.co.uk
The bidder with no statutory rights – Local Government Lawyer
‘Most competitions run by local authorities attract UK bidders, and the question of who is owed statutory duties never arises. It arises more often than it used to. Waste, energy, highways, digital systems and construction supply chains now draw in suppliers established outside the UK, not all of them from states with a procurement agreement with us. When one loses and complains, the first question is not whether the evaluation was sound. It is whether the authority owed it anything at all.’
Local Government Lawyer, 19th August 2026
Source: www.localgovernmentlawyer.co.uk
Culligan v Rosemin-Culligan [2026] EWCA Civ 948 – Financial Remedies Journal
‘The Court of Appeal gives clarity on Wells sharing and that it was never really intended for this to be as a ‘last resort’ or that a ‘minority element; it is to be required. The objective is to achieve a fair balance and distribution of liquid (realisable) and illiquid (risk laden) assets in all the circumstances of the case, and this does not necessarily mean there will be a clean break.’
Financial Remedies Journal, 19th August 2026
Source: financialremediesjournal.com
TH v AR & Anor (No. 1: Financial Remedies: Antisuit Injunction) [2026] EWFC 220 – Financial Remedies Journal
‘Mr Nicholas Allen KC, sitting as a deputy High Court judge. The husband obtained an interim anti-suit injunction, pending judgment in financial remedy proceedings, to prohibit the wife from pursuing foreign proceedings concerning Russian property interests already in issue before the English court.’
Financial Remedies Journal, 17th August 2026
Source: financialremediesjournal.com
Ferrara v Ferrara [2026] EWCA Civ 512 – Financial Remedies Journal
‘Appeal from a decision by Garrido J. Domicile in England retained after relocation to Italy, and stay in favour of Italian proceedings refused.’
Financial Remedies Journal, 17th August 2026
Source: financialremediesjournal.com
AB v CD [2026] EWHC 1504 (Fam) – Financial Remedies Journal
‘Cusworth J on an application for a legal services payment order (LSPO) and Maintenance Pending Suit (MPS).’
Financial Remedies Journal, 17th August 2026
Source: financialremediesjournal.com
Man convicted after mistaken identity cigarette fine – BBC News
‘A man has received a criminal conviction for not paying a fine for dropping a cigarette butt, even though he says he has never smoked’
BBC News, 19th August 2026
Source: www.bbc.co.uk
Asylum seekers told rape and harassment illegal in UK in new Home Office booklet – BBC News
‘Asylum seekers have been told that rape, sexual harassment and domestic abuse are illegal in the UK, in guidance for new arrivals published by the Home Office.’
BBC News, 19th August 2026
Source: www.bbc.co.uk
How one man gets new laws passed – again and again – BBC News
‘Over the years Bailey has worked for groups including the Green Party, the Community Rights Project and the Sustainable Energy Association.
‘In that time he estimates he has been involved in getting 16 bills into law and has had a hand in a further 25 law changes.’
BBC News, 19th August 2026
Source: www.bbc.co.uk
Bristol osteopath struck off after telling patient that ‘having sex with children is OK’ – The Independent
‘An osteopath who told a patient “it’s OK to have sex with children as long as they have hit puberty” has been struck off.’
The Independent, 19th August 2026
Source: www.independent.co.uk
‘I want the children to have a relationship with their father but he scares me’ – Part 2: the welfare decision – Transparency Project
‘In Part One of this report, I described the court hearings in Cardiff Family Court that led to HHJ Paul Hopkins KC producing a 188 page fact-finding judgment of more than 700 paragraphs. The judge concluded that most of the allegations that the father, (who I’m calling “Ben”) against his ex-wife (“Laura”) were not true. In 2024, Ben had applied for a child arrangements order that his children live with him, instead of with Laura.’
Transparency Project, 12th August 2026
Source: transparencyproject.org.uk
CDM statement: Bishop Paul Butler – Law & Religion UK
‘On 17 August 2026, the Church of England issued the Press Release Clergy Discipline complaint against Bishop Paul Butler which is reproduced in full below.’
Law & Religion UK, 18th August 2026
Source: lawandreligionuk.com
Court of Appeal ruling raises new negligence risks for developers – OUT-LAW.com
‘A recent Court of Appeal decision could have significant implications for developers, housebuilders and construction businesses in England and Wales after the court upheld a negligence claim arising from neighbouring land use despite finding that a claim in private nuisance could not succeed, experts have said.’
OUT-LAW.com, 17th August 2026
Source: www.pinsentmasons.com
Compulsory ethics discussions “risk becoming another box to tick” – Legal Futures
‘Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA) plans for solicitors to attend compulsory three-hour ethics discussions “could lead to a ‘box-ticking’ approach”, academics have warned.’
Legal Futures, 19th August 2026
Source: www.legalfutures.co.uk
