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02 September 2019
Issue: 7854 / Categories: Legal News , Profession , Criminal , Technology
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Future projects for law reform

The use of technology in business and the protection of victims of abusive online communications are the law reform priorities of the next appointees to the Law Commission.

Professor Penney Lewis of the Dickson Poon School of Law, King’s College London will replace Professor David Ormerod QC as the Commissioner for Criminal Law. Professor Sarah Green of Bristol University will replace Stephen Lewis as the Commissioner for Commercial and Common Law.

Both women will begin their roles at the Commission in January 2020.

Professor Lewis said she was ‘particularly excited’ to begin work on improving protection for ‘the growing number of victims of hate crime, offensive and abusive communications and the non-consensual sharing of intimate images’. She will also lead on the confiscation of the proceeds of crime.

Professor Green highlighted the need for law reform to keep up with technological advances. ‘The work the Law Commission is undertaking on such matters as intermediated securities and smart contracts can help unlock obstacles to business, which will be especially important in the trading environments of the future,’ she said.

Sir Nicholas Green, Chair of the Law Commission, said: ‘The pool of candidates for the two positions was exceptionally strong.’

Issue: 7854 / Categories: Legal News , Profession , Criminal , Technology
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MOVERS & SHAKERS

Jurit LLP—Caroline Williams

Jurit LLP—Caroline Williams

Private wealth and tax team welcomes cross-border specialist as consultant

Freeths—Michelle Kirkland Elias

Freeths—Michelle Kirkland Elias

International hospitality and leisure specialist joins corporate team as partner

Flint Bishop—Deborah Niven

Flint Bishop—Deborah Niven

Firm appoints head of intellectual property to drive northern growth

NEWS
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After Woodcock confirmed no general duty to warn, debate turns to the criminal law. Writing in NLJ this week, Charles Davey of The Barrister Group urges revival of misprision or a modern equivalent
Family courts are tightening control of expert evidence. Writing in NLJ this week, Dr Chris Pamplin says there is ‘no automatic right’ to call experts; attendance must be ‘necessary in the interests of justice’ under FPR Pt 25
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