THIS ISSUE
Business around the world are dusting off the force majeure clauses in contracts as they seek to deal with the disruption caused by COVID-19, say barristers from Fountain Court
Extra wording has been added to the statement of truth―the verification that a witness or party believes their statement to be true, which is required by many court documents
Amendments to civil legal aid will come into force on 15 May, removing the ‘much maligned gateway’ for advice in discrimination, debt and special educational needs and reinstating face-to-face advice in these areas, as well as a small change to the evidence required to prove a person is at risk from domestic abuse and therefore eligible for legal aid, NLJ columnist Stephen Gold writes in the latest Civil Way
The Legal Aid Agency has amended its arrangements for hardship claims
A rugby spectator who exaggerated his injuries has had 15% knocked off his recoverable costs
In response to the COVID-19 outbreak, the Land Registry is accepting deeds signed using the Mercury signing approach from 4 May.
The Civil Justice Council (CJC) has commissioned an urgent review into the impact of COVID-19 on the civil justice system
Dana Denis-Smith, CEO of Obelisk Support, has written an open letter to general counsel for diversity & inclusion, signed by 27 other female founders of legal services businesses
Judges must be ‘hard-headed’ when deciding which cases to prioritise for remote hearings and which can wait, the senior family judge has said
Law centres and advice charities have been offered a £5.4m boost to help them cope with increased demand for social welfare advice during the COVID-19 pandemic
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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