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19 July 2024 / Dominic Regan
Issue: 8080 / Categories: Opinion , Human rights , Costs , In Court , Profession
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The insider: 19 July 2024

182213
Dominic Regan sheds light on the Assange affair & rails against absurd expenditure at home & abroad

The Assange affair generated countless hearings over the years. His return to freedom in Australia closes a massive chapter in English law. Julian Assange (pictured) was perhaps not the easiest of clients. Andrew O’Hagan in The Secret Life: Three True Stories describes his appointment as ghost writer of the autobiography of Julian Assange. This meant he was in close proximity to the man. The legal team made strenuous efforts to look after their tricky client, but it didn’t take long for the Australian to refer to them as ‘c*nts’. Despite receiving a fee discount Assange remained unhappy citing ‘little cuts £20,000 here, £40,000 there, but the bill remains disgusting’. Their ways parted shortly afterwards. The intended literary agent for the book chipped in with: ‘Nobody pays their full lawyers’ bill.’ Oh really?

Promotion commotion

The Judicial Conduct Investigation Office (JCIO) has overnight become so much more muscular and transparent. Picken J applied for promotion to the Court of Appeal a few

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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
Talk of a reserved ‘Welsh seat’ on the Supreme Court is misplaced. In NLJ this week, Professor Graham Zellick KC explains that the Constitutional Reform Act treats ‘England and Wales’ as one jurisdiction, with no statutory Welsh slot
The government’s plan to curb jury trials has sparked ‘jury furore’. Writing in NLJ this week, David Locke, partner at Hill Dickinson, says the rationale is ‘grossly inadequate’
A year after the $1.5bn Bybit heist, crypto fraud is booming—but so is recovery. Writing in NLJ this week, Neil Holloway, founder and CEO of M2 Recovery, warns that scams hit at least $14bn in 2025, fuelled by ‘pig butchering’ cons and AI deepfakes
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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