THIS ISSUE
The Russian invasion of Ukraine has prompted some interesting ethical questions among practitioners, particularly those with oligarch clients
In this week’s Civil Way, former District Judge Stephen Gold covers the latest in a David and Goliath battle between a couple duped out of their life savings and the all-powerful Barclays Bank. Where does responsibility lie?
Mrs Justice Cockerill, head of the Commercial Court, answers questions put to her by freelance legal journalist Grania Langdon-Down in a wide-ranging interview, in this week’s NLJ
Is the time ripe for a public defender system? Writing in this week’s NLJ, solicitor Roger Smith mulls the pros and cons of such a system, noting the underfunding of criminal legal aid, the ongoing ‘no returns’ action of the Criminal Bar and the current political climate
Baroness Hallett, Chair of the UK COVID-19 Public Inquiry, wrote to the Prime Minister last week, requesting the terms of reference be expanded to include the impact on children and young people, mental health and wellbeing, and collaboration between government and the voluntary and community sector
The Ministry of Justice (MoJ) has expanded a scheme that allows victims and witnesses of crimes, such as rape and modern slavery, to have their cross-examination video-recorded and played later in trial
The Sentencing Council has revised its guidelines on sentencing offenders convicted of arranging or facilitating sexual offences against a child, and issued a new guideline on sexual communication with a child
This year’s Pro Bono Week will discuss how lawyers have coordinated support in response to the crises in Afghanistan and Ukraine, and how best to deliver for future emergencies
The number of deaths in state detention rose 3% in 2021 on the previous year (580 compared to 562), with a 17% rise in deaths in prison custody, ‘driven by deaths related to COVID-19, which peaked in 2021 Q1’, the Ministry of Justice (MoJ) has revealed
After some challenging years, solicitors are starting to feel the benefits of the tough decisions they made to survive, the latest LexisNexis Bellwether report has found
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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