Government review highlights impact and ongoing challenges five years after Domestic Abuse Act – Family Law

Posted May 14th, 2026 in news by Simon

‘The Government has published its long-awaited post-legislative scrutiny memorandum on the Domestic Abuse Act 2021, setting out its assessment of the landmark legislation five years after it received Royal Assent.’

Full Story

Family Law, 11th May 2026

Source: www.familylaw.co.uk

Speech by Mr Justice Nicklin: Open Justice and the Missing Dimension – Courts and Tribunals Judiciary

Posted May 14th, 2026 in news by Simon

‘Today, however, I do not want to deliver a general lecture on the constitutional foundations of open justice. I want to talk about something more specific and more practical: access to documents – because in modern civil justice, if open justice does not follow the documents, it risks becoming an illusion rather than a reality.’

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Courts and Tribunals Judiciary, 13th May 2026

Source: www.judiciary.uk

Time to ratify the safety convention, says Bar Council – Bar Council

Posted May 14th, 2026 in news by Simon

‘The Bar Council is calling on the UK Government to ratify the Council of Europe’s Convention on the Protection of the Profession of Lawyer (the Luxembourg Treaty) on the anniversary of its launch.’

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Bar Council, 13th May 2026

Source: www.barcouncil.org.uk

Understanding the New UK Asylum Rules: What Has Changed? – EIN Blog

Posted May 14th, 2026 in news by Simon

‘The UK asylum system has changed a lot in recent years. New rules and policies have affected how asylum claims are made, how they are decided, and what people seeking protection may face during the process.

‘For asylum seekers, advisers and those working in immigration law, it is important to understand what these changes may mean in practice.’

Full Story

EIN Blog, 13th May 2026

Source: www.ein.org.uk

Post Office scandal victim wins appeal over £2m trial split – Law Society Gazette

Posted May 14th, 2026 in news by Simon

‘A high-profile victim of the Post Office scandal has won a preliminary argument about his own civil claim in the Court of Appeal. Former sub-postmaster Lee Castleton challenged the court’s decision from earlier this year that his claim against the Post Office should be broken into split trials.’

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Law Society Gazette, 14th May 2026

Source: www.lawgazette.co.uk

King’s speech: Criminal justice and leasehold reforms still on agenda – Law Society Gazette

Posted May 14th, 2026 in news by Simon

‘The government of embattled prime minister Sir Keir Starmer today signalled its intention to proceed with reforms to the criminal justice system. As widely expected, the King’s speech also included a promise of legislation to reform leasehold, including the capping of ground rents.’

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Law Society Gazette, 13th May 2026

Source: www.lawgazette.co.uk

BAILII: Recent Decisions

Posted May 13th, 2026 in law reports by michael

Court of Appeal (Civil Division)

Tesco Stores Ltd v Element & Ors [2026] EWCA Civ 580 (12 May 2026)

JP Morgan Securities Plc & Ors v VTB Bank PJSC [2026] EWCA Civ 589 (12 May 2026)

Court of Appeal (Criminal Division)

HGF, R. v [2026] EWCA Crim 570 (22 April 2026)

Sousa, R. v [2026] EWCA Crim 585 (21 April 2026)

High Court (Administrative Court)

Davies v The Nursing and Midwifery Council [2026] EWHC 1139 (Admin) (13 May 2026)

EBA, R (On the Application Of) v Secretary of State for Defence & Anor [2026] EWHC 1131 (Admin) (13 May 2026)

Stenhouse v The Bar Standards Board [2026] EWHC 1117 (Admin) (13 May 2026)

Sentinel Estates Ltd v Secretary of State for Housing, Communities And Local Government & Anor [2026] EWHC 1122 (Admin) (12 May 2026)

High Court (Chancery Division)

Novo Nordisk A/S & Anor v British Telecommunications PLC & Ors [2026] EWHC 1094 (Ch) (13 May 2026)

JDK Holdings Corp v Bourgade & Anor [2026] EWHC 1072 (Ch) (13 May 2026)

Ludlow Trust Company Ltd v Homfray [2026] EWHC 1107 (Ch) (13 May 2026)

Barriball & Anor v Jackson & Anor (Re HSJ Consultancy Ltd) [2026] EWHC 1135 (Ch) (13 May 2026)

Woolls v Byrtt [2026] EWHC 1141 (Ch) (11 May 2026)

High Court (Commercial Court)

The Russian Aircraft Litigation – Operator Policy Claims [2026] EWHC 1134 (Comm) (13 May 2026)

Magomedov & Ors v TPG Group Holdings (SBS), LP & Ors [2026] EWHC 1051 (Comm) (06 May 2026)

The Hellenic Republic v Wilmington Trust (London) Ltd [2026] EWHC 1049 (Comm) (06 May 2026)

High Court (King’s Bench Division)

De Giovanni v Kehoe & Ors [2026] EWHC 1136 (KB) (13 May 2026)

Cook v Skeggs [2026] EWHC 1132 (KB) (12 May 2026)

Source: www.bailii.org

Waspi campaigners to launch fresh legal challenge over compensation – The Independent

Posted May 13th, 2026 in news by michael

‘The announcement by the Women Against State Pension Inequality group follows a decision in January, when women affected by the way changes to the state pension age were communicated were told for a second time they would not receive compensation.’

Full Story

The Independent, 13th May 2026

Source: www.independent.co.uk

Non-involvement with CDM proceedings (II) – Law & Religion UK

Posted May 13th, 2026 in news by michael

‘An earlier post Non-involvement with CDM proceedings (I) considered the impact of the removal from office of the Rev Karen Padley as Priest in Charge of St Lawrence Heanor, St Andrew Langley Mill, and St John Aldercar, and Vicar of All Saints Marlpool, by an Independent Tribunal established under the Clergy Discipline Measure 2003, and her prohibition from ministering as a priest in the Church of England for three years. In this post we review the associated Decision (7 January 2026) and Penalty (31 March 2026) of the Tribunal, reported on the Church of England web site (March 2026).

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Law & Religion UK, 13th May 2026

Source: lawandreligionuk.com

Non-involvement with CDM proceedings (I) – Law & Religion UK

Posted May 13th, 2026 in news by michael

‘On 4 May 2026, The Marlpudlian – “The website for All Saints Church and the wider community” – posted “A Big Change at All Saints” in which it informed parishioners that “As of Tuesday 31st March 2026, the Revd Karen Padley is  no longer the vicar of All Saints church, nor is she priest-in-charge of the churches of St Lawrence Heanor, St Andrew’s Langley Mill and St John’s Aldercar.”’

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Law & Religion UK, 11th May 2026

Source: lawandreligionuk.com

Barrister who put client’s interests ahead of duty to court disbarred – Legal Futures

Posted May 13th, 2026 in news by michael

‘A barrister who knowingly allowed a judge and opposing party in a family law case to be misled during a hearing has been disbarred for “professional dishonesty”.’

Full Story

Legal Futures, 13th May 2026

Source: www.legalfutures.co.uk

The ban on upward only rent reviews in commercial leases – Local Government Lawyer

Posted May 13th, 2026 in news by michael

‘Last summer, the Government introduced a surprise proposal to ban upwards-only rent reviews (“UORRs”) in commercial leases, hidden within the English Devolution and Community Empowerment Bill.’

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Local Government Lawyer, 13th May 2026

Source: www.localgovernmentlawyer.co.uk

Woman wanted for 22 years over assault arrested in live facial recognition trial – The Indepenent

Posted May 13th, 2026 in news by michael

‘A woman sought by authorities for over two decades has been apprehended during a six-month live facial recognition trial in south London.’

Full Story

The Independent, 13th May 2026

Source: www.independent.co.uk

Palestine Action activists could be sentenced as terrorists for £1m raid on defence factory – The Independent

Posted May 13th, 2026 in news by michael

‘Palestine Action activists who caused £1m of criminal damage to an Israel-linked defence firm could be sentenced as terrorists, it can now be revealed.’

Full Story

The Independent, 12th May 2026

Source: www.independent.co.uk

Barrister in Palestine Action trial wins contempt challenge – BBC News

Posted May 13th, 2026 in news by michael

‘A leading barrister has won a reprieve from facing an unprecedented contempt of court case over his alleged conduct during a trial of six Palestine Action activists.’

Full Story

BBC News, 12th May 2026

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

BAILII: Recent Decisions

Posted May 12th, 2026 in law reports by michael

Court of Appeal (Civil Division)

Deutsche Bank AG v Vik [2026] EWCA Civ 581 (12 May 2026)

P, Re (No 2: Welfare) [2026] EWCA Civ 571 (12 May 2026)

Castleton v Post Office Ltd & Anor [2026] EWCA Civ 577 (12 May 2026)

Acer Incorporated & Anor v Nokia Technologies OY [2026] EWCA Civ 564 (12 May 2026)

Lifestyle Equities CV & Anor v Frasers Group Trading Ltd & Ors [2026] EWCA Civ 583 (12 May 2026)

Menon, In the Matter Of (Re Contempt Proceedings) [2026] EWCA Civ 573 (12 May 2026)

Kalidasan & Ors v Secretary of State for the Home Department [2026] EWCA Civ 561 (11 May 2026)

M (A Child: Adoption: Duty of Disclosure) [2026] EWCA Civ 568 (11 May 2026)

Mavin v Wyatt [2026] EWCA Civ 585 (08 May 2026)

Alesayi v Bank Audi SAL [2026] EWCA Civ 551 (08 May 2026) 

Court of Appeal (Criminal Division)

Hollywood, R. v [2026] EWCA Crim 558 (24 April 2026)

Williamson, R. v [2026] EWCA Crim 548 (23 April 2026)

Calver-Smith, R. v [2026] EWCA Crim 560 (21 April 2026)

King, R. v [2026] EWCA Crim 526 (17 April 2026)

Johnson, R. v [2026] EWCA Crim 549 (17 April 2026)

Courtney, R. v [2026] EWCA Crim 525 (16 April 2026)

Hoe, R. v [2026] EWCA Crim 554 (16 April 2026)

Hussain, R. v [2026] EWCA Crim 514 (16 April 2026)

Newton, R. v [2026] EWCA Crim 519 (16 April 2026)

High Court (Administrative Court)

Martin & Ors, R (On the Application Of) v Chancellor of the Exchequer & Anor [2026] EWHC 1123 (Admin) (12 May 2026)

Kerr v Welsh Ministers & Ors [2026] EWHC 1070 (Admin) (11 May 2026)

High Court (Chancery Division)

Bennets Courtyard Ltd v Bennets Courtyard Airspace Ltd [2026] EWHC 1119 (Ch) (12 May 2026)

Zhuravleva v Kamalova [2026] EWHC 1041 (Ch) (11 May 2026)

Rued v Dormer & Anor [2026] EWHC 1074 (Ch) (08 May 2026)

High Court (King’s Bench Division)

Haldar & & Anor v Crook & Ors (Rev1) [2026] EWHC 1091 (KB) (11 May 2026)

Blakeman v University Hospitals of North Midlands NHS Trust [2026] EWHC 1089 (KB) (11 May 2026)

Bhatti v County Durham And Darlington NHS Foundation Trust [2026] EWHC 1079 (KB) (11 May 2026)

BPA v NXT [2026] EWHC 1095 (KB) (08 May 2026)

Vertical Aerospace Group Ltd v Ngoma [2026] EWHC 1096 (KB) (08 May 2026)

High Court (Family Division)

C (Article 13(b): Summary return to Lithuania), Re [2026] EWHC 1120 (Fam) (05 May 2026)

Lubala v Mousley [2026] EWHC 1081 (Fam) (28 April 2026)

A Local Authority v CD & Ors [2026] EWHC 980 (Fam) (31 March 2026)

Source: www.bailii.org

In praise of Schumacher – approach to trustee removal applications – Wilberforce Chambers

Posted May 12th, 2026 in news by sally

‘The recent English case of Smith v Campbell [2025] EWHC 3011 (Ch) considered once again the approach to trustee removal applications in England which was solidified by the decision of Chief Master Marsh in Schumacher v Clarke [2019] EWHC 1031 (Ch).’

Full Story

Wilberforce Chambers, 8th May 2026

Source: www.wilberforce.co.uk

Averaging and Weighting—The Treatment of Comparable Evidence in Valuing the Premium Payable on a Lease Extension Claim – Tanfield Chambers

Posted May 12th, 2026 in news by sally

‘Nicola Muir analyses the Upper Tribunal’s decision in Deritend Investments (Birkdale) Ltd v Fung Tai Engineering Co Ltd and its implications for lease extension valuation practice, including the averaging and weighting of comparable evidence, relativity, and valuation methodology under the 1993 Act.’

Full Story

Tanfield Chambers, 12th May 2026

Source: tanfieldchambers.co.uk

Modest Assets, Real Stakes: Private FDRs beyond ‘big money’ matters – St Philips Barristers

Posted May 12th, 2026 in news by sally

‘Although typically associated with high-net worth cases – where the available assets exceed the parties’ needs – private financial dispute resolutions (“pFDRs”) should also be given serious consideration in disputes concerning modest-assets, where issues of need frequently predominate. This article, written by specialist Family barristers, Keiron McCabe and Lillian Garnier examines: (i) the background context and advantage of pFDRs in low-to-mid value cases; and (ii) aims to outline some of the key considerations that practitioners should bear in mind when utilising pFDRs.’

Full Story

St Philips Barristers, 5th May 2026

Source: st-philips.com

The Renters’ Rights Act 2026: What are the Key Changes? – St Ives Chambers

Posted May 12th, 2026 in news by sally

‘George Fattal examines the far‑reaching impact of the Renters’ Rights Act 2026 and the seismic changes it brings to the private rented sector.’

Full Story

St Ives Chambers, 5th May 2026

Source: stiveschambers.co.uk