THIS ISSUE
The legal status of smart contracts and cryptoassets under English law has been confirmed by a taskforce chaired by the Chancellor of the High Court
Litigants in person should seek legal aid from the Legal Aid Agency not the High Court for civil contempt proceedings, Mr Justice Chamberlain has said in a case about an alleged ticket tout
The Association of Costs Lawyers (ACL) has reopened its training scheme for the first time in three years
Multiple family homes have been the fastest growing type of household during the past two decades, rising by three-quarters to 297,000 households in 2019, Office of National Statistics figures have revealed.
The Law Society has issued its own manifesto for the election, challenging the political parties to prioritise justice in their plans for government
The High Court rejected claims by the Liberal Democrats and SNP that they were unfairly and unlawfully excluded from the ITV election debate between the Prime Minister and Leader of the Opposition this week
The solicitors’ Handbook will be replaced by ‘Standards and Regulations’ on 25 November
MOVERS & SHAKERS
Jurit LLP—Caroline Williams
Private wealth and tax team welcomes cross-border specialist as consultant
Freeths—Michelle Kirkland Elias
International hospitality and leisure specialist joins corporate team as partner
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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