Issue: Vol 173, Issue 8028

Home-working has created legal conundrums for property practitioners—what to do about covenants preventing business use? In this week’s NLJ, Michael Ranson and Taylor Briggs, barristers at Falcon Chambers, explore the recent case of Hodgson v Cook in which a home owner sought modification of a covenant prohibiting home-working.

When you make a mistake when advising a client, what should you do? In this week’s NLJ, John Gould, senior partner at Russell-Cooke, explains why ‘sorry’ may be the hardest word, but not saying it could cost you lots of money.

Costs budgeting, guideline hourly rates and the extension of fixed costs were among the topics covered in a recent batch of recommendations handed down by the Civil Justice Council (CJC). In this week’s NLJ, Julian Chamberlayne and Louise Morgan welcome the ‘various bespoke processes’ championed in the CJC’s final report, and set out their thinking on the reforms ahead.

The fixed costs rules are almost here. Published at the end of last month although not effective until 1 October, ‘palpable anxiety is already coursing through the legal profession,’ Professor Dominic Regan reports in this week’s NLJ. 

Ring the bells & sound the drums: the fixed costs rules are almost here. Dominic Regan provides the lowdown on what to expect & how to prepare

Recent years have shown how quickly fortunes can change: Stephen Gerlis makes the case for regular reviews of maintenance payments in private family law

How can the family courts achieve hearings ‘within a reasonable time’? David Burrows sets out some practical ideas for speeding up cases

The rise of home working has created an uncertain landscape for property practitioners: Michael Ranson & Taylor Briggs report on ‘business use’ &  the modification of restrictive covenants

Nothing is ever certain in litigation: David Walbank KC assesses the Court of Appeal’s reversal of a first-instance decision on state immunity

The Civil Justice Council has handed down a wide range of recommendations on costs budgeting, guidelines hourly rates & beyond: Julian Chamberlayne & Louise Morgan hail the arrival of a more bespoke approach