Balancing Open Justice and Privacy: A Case Study on Taxpayer Anonymity in the Upper Tribunal – 33 Bedford Row

‘HMRC v The Taxpayer (Appellant) and Times Media Limtied and News Group Newspapers Limited and PA Media Tax Policy Associates Limited (Third Parties) [2024] UKUT 00364 (TCC). This case concerns an application for taxpayer anonymity in the Upper Tribunal (Tax and Chancery Chamber). The taxpayer, who had initially appealed against HMRC’s denial of certain tax deductions, sought to keep their identity confidential during the proceedings and in the final decision. This request was opposed by HMRC and several media organizations, including Times Media Limited and News Group Newspapers Limited.’

Full Story

33 Bedford Row, 22nd November 2024

Source: www.33bedfordrow.co.uk

Ethical clashes can cause young lawyers health problems – Legal Futures

Posted November 26th, 2024 in health, law firms, legal profession, news, public interest by tracey

‘Having a professional identity as a young lawyer that does not align with the values of your law firm could turn “wellbeing issues into serious health problems”, a leading legal academic has warned.’

Full Story

Legal Futures, 26th November 2024

Source: www.legalfutures.co.uk

Slapps used to silence whistleblowers should be outlawed, says group of MPs – The Guardian

‘Excessive legal threats used to silence those who tried to expose the Post Office Horizon scandal and allegations against Mohamed Al Fayed should be outlawed, a cross-party group of MPs have said.’

Full Story

The Guardian, 21st November 2024

Source: www.theguardian.com

Judgment in FT application for non-party access to documents – 5RB

‘On 28 June 2024, ICC Judge Mullen, sitting in the Chancery Division, gave an ex tempore judgment, partially granting the Financial Times’ application for pre-hearing access to an affidavit which the Secretary of State had lodged in support of its directors disqualification claim against the financier Lex Greensill.’

Full Story

5RB, 10th October 2024

Source: www.5rb.com

Tribunal orders council to release pay rise documents in “public interest” – Local Government Lawyer

Posted September 26th, 2024 in BBC, freedom of information, local government, news, public interest, remuneration by sally

‘The First-tier Tribunal has ordered Cumberland Council to release documents relating to a decision to double councillors’ pay over an 11-month period, after it refused to provide information requested by the BBC.’

Full Story

Local Government Lawyer, 25th September 2024

Source: www.localgovernmentlawyer.co.uk

Met Police ‘didn’t get everything right’ as report shows impact of protests on tourism and public services – The Independent

‘The Metropolitan Police “didn’t get everything right” in policing recent large-scale protests, as a new report reveals the impact caused on tourism, retail and public service finances.’

Full Story

The Independent, 9th September 2024

Source: www.independent.co.uk

Why did a judge name Southport stabbing suspect Axel Rudakubana?

Posted August 2nd, 2024 in anonymity, children, judges, murder, news, public interest, public order, young offenders by michael

‘Under Section 49 of the Children and Young Persons Act 1933, minors facing criminal charges have an automatic right to anonymity in a youth court. Judges will also impose reporting restrictions for most cases heard in an adult court if the defendant is under 18.’

Full Story

The Independent, 1st August 2024

Source: www.independent.co.uk

Imprisonment for Public Protection: No more kicking the can – Mountford Chambers

‘With an election taking place during the Euros, it is almost too tempting to describe the Labour Party as running towards an open goal. A new government is almost seen as inevitable, with the real question being the size of its majority. Yet it remains unclear whether this change will embolden much-needed reform to the criminal justice system. For any future Justice Secretary, addressing the plight of those serving sentences of Imprisonment for Public Protection (IPP) must be at the top of their to-do list.’

Full Story

Mountford Chambersm 1st July 2024

Source: www.mountfordchambers.com

Labour delays proposals to ban oppressive Slapps lawsuits – The Guardian

Posted July 25th, 2024 in bills, freedom of expression, news, political parties, public interest by sally

‘Labour has delayed proposals to tackle spurious lawsuits brought by oligarchs and others aimed at intimidating journalists, academics and campaigners.’

Full Story

The Guardian, 24th July 2024

Source: www.theguardian.com

Trainee “bullied and unsupervised” in doing work of qualified lawyers – Legal Futures

‘A trainee solicitor fired for raising concerns about her lack of supervision and the poor service clients were receiving from her firm has been awarded damages of £36,000.’

Full Story

Legal Futures, 10th July 2024

Source: www.legalfutures.co.uk

Harcombe / Kendrick preliminary trial judgment – 5RB

Posted July 10th, 2024 in chambers articles, defamation, media, news, public interest by tracey

‘Mr Justice Nicklin has handed down judgment on the preliminary issues that were tried between 3 and 11 July last year in Zoe Harcombe and Dr Malcolm Kendrick’s libel actions against the Mail on Sunday.’

Full Story

5RB, 25th June 2024

Source: www.5rb.com

Ex-solicitor struck off 24 years ago fails in bid to return to roll – Legal Futures

‘A woman struck off as a solicitor 24 years ago has failed in her second attempt to be restored to the roll, with a tribunal saying the passage of time did not of itself justify it.’

Full Story

Legal Futures, 2nd July 2024

Source: www.legalfutures.co.uk

More transparency? Or naming and shaming? The FCA’s proposed new approach to enforcement – Mountford Chambers

‘Fatima Jama explores the FCA’s proposed new approach to enforcement and increasing the transparency of investigations.’

Full Story

Mountford Chambers, 2nd May 2024

Source: www.mountfordchambers.com

Wolverhampton guilty verdicts raise issue of naming child killers – The Guardian

‘Some believe naming convicted children acts as deterrent, while others say it could glorify horrific acts.’

Full Story

The Guardian, 15th June 2024

Source: www.theguardian.com

Judge allows reporting of case where DNA tests established that three abandoned babies were full sibliings – Local Government Lawyer

‘A newborn baby abandoned in Newham, East London, has been found – following DNA testing – to be the third child abandoned by the same parents.’

Full Story

Local Government Lawyer, 6th June 2024

Source: www.localgovernmentlawyer.co.uk

Litigation funding supports the public interest, major research finds – Legal Futures

Posted May 23rd, 2024 in champerty, civil justice, news, public interest, reports by sally

‘Litigation funding supports the public interest and access to justice but will remain niche in aiding consumers, according to major research which identified 44 cases in the last five years.’

Full Story

Legal Futures, 23rd May 2024

Source: www.legalfutures.co.uk

SLAPPs: What are they? And how should defamation law be reformed to address them? – Journal of Media Law

Posted May 16th, 2024 in defamation, freedom of expression, news, public interest by sally

‘This article examines the need for legislative reform to address the problem of strategic litigation against public participation (SLAPPs), with a focus on defamation law as the most common action for such claims. It draws upon legislative and judicial approaches from a range of different jurisdictions to define the problem of SLAPPs and examines whether the existing law in England and Wales provides an adequate solution to the problem of SLAPPs. This analysis indicates some important recent developments in the law that are relevant to SLAPPs but concludes that legislative reform is necessary to address the problem of SLAPPs. In contrast to the current proposals for reform, the article proposes an anti-SLAPP provision that crystallizes and builds upon recent developments in the law, to effectively address the problem of SLAPPs without posing an unnecessary risk of the denial of innocent claims.’

Full Story

Journal of Media Law, 13th May 2024

Source: www.tandfonline.com

Restoring faith: Marina Wheeler KC – Counsel

‘The “non-party political” employment silk advising Labour talks to Stephanie Hayward about employer failure to tackle workplace sexual harassment and the urgent need to reinvent whistleblowing culture.’

Full Story

Counsel, May 2024

Source: www.counselmagazine.co.uk

SRA seeks power to launch “spot checks” of law firms – Legal Futures

‘The Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA) has called for the power to launch “wide-sweeping inspections” of law firms without needing the trigger of a specific allegation of misconduct.’

Full Story

Legal Futures, 8th May 2024

Source: www.legalfutures.co.uk

High Court upholds wasted costs order against law firm – Legal Futures

‘A circuit judge was entitled to make a wasted costs order against a firm of solicitors that failed to translate their client’s statement and pleadings for use at trial, the High Court has ruled.’

Full Story

Legal Futures, 18th March 2024

Source: www.legalfutures.co.uk