THIS ISSUE
Discarded nitrous oxide (laughing gas) canisters are a familiar sight in towns and cities across the UK, but should the law on their use be changed?
The ‘failure to prevent’ fraud offence, now confirmed by the government, is big news for corporates.
Japanese knotweed is a plant on the rampage, scuppering property deals large and small and striking terror into the hearts of conveyancing professionals on a level akin to John Wyndham’s The Day of the Triffids.
Litigation funders have enjoyed a relatively easy regulatory ride so far, but are the good times coming to an end?
While nitrous oxide abuse is no joke, is criminalising the drug the right move? Dr Michael Harrison & Dr Olubunmi Onafuwa caution against a heavy-handed approach to the laughing gas problem
How can the civil law help victims of image-based sexual abuse? Zahra Awaiz-Bilal reports on a landmark decision of the High Court
With change finally on the horizon, Julia Petrenko & Ashpen Rajah outline the long overdue case for reforming the Landlord & Tenant Act 1954
The new ‘failure to prevent’ fraud criminal offence: Abigail Rushton & Rhys Novak set out the steps corporate bodies should be taking now to prepare
Is the current approach to delegated legislation undermining the constitutional balance between executive & legislature? Nick Wrightson discusses the need for greater oversight
David Walbank KC reports on anthropomorphism in court & the legal protections accorded to animals
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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