THIS ISSUE
The law of England and Wales is well placed—with some minor reform and development—to secure the UK’s position as a global crypto hub, the Law Commission has concluded
Permission has been granted for a legal challenge against the Ministry of Justice (MoJ) for failing to raise solicitors’ criminal defence rates by the minimum 15% recommended by Lord Bellamy’s independent review on criminal legal aid
A young man with autism has won his case that the cost of activities related to a daily social and life skills group should be deemed disability related expenditure (DRE) and cannot be ignored when calculating how much he should pay towards the cost of his care
The Solicitors Regulatory Authority (SRA) has proposed a 12% rise in its budget, which is mainly funded through solicitors’ practising certificate fees collected in October
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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