THIS ISSUE
Writing in NLJ this week, Katherine Harding and Charlotte Finley of Penningtons Manches Cooper examine Standish v Standish [2025] UKSC 26, the Supreme Court ruling that narrowed what counts as matrimonial property, and its potential impact upon claims under the Inheritance (Provision for Family and Dependants) Act 1975
In this week's NLJ, Dr Jon Robins, editor of The Justice Gap and lecturer at Brighton University, reports on a campaign to posthumously exonerate Christine Keeler. 60 years after her perjury conviction, Keeler’s son Seymour Platt has petitioned the king to exercise the royal prerogative of mercy, arguing she was a victim of violence and moral hypocrisy, not deceit. Supported by Felicity Gerry KC, the dossier brands the conviction 'the ultimate in slut-shaming'
Without enforcement, judgments are worthless. HHJ Karen Walden-Smith sets out the Civil Justice Council’s recommendations to improve effectiveness & efficiency
Antonia Mee on why all professionals involved in family law should be trained to recognise trauma
Marie Law, Director of Toxicology at AlphaBiolabs, discusses the application and benefits of repeat drug and alcohol testing in the Family Court
In this week's employment law brief for NLJ, Ian Smith, barrister and emeritus professor at UEA, surveys a run of Employment Appeal Tribunal (EAT) rulings underscoring the procedural rigour of tribunal practice
The Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA) has published a statement in a bid to clear up confusion over the right to conduct litigation following Mazur and another v Charles Russell Speechleys
Homebuyers could be given an option to sign a binding contract with vendors to protect against the practice of parties pulling out of agreements after months of negotiations, under a proposed overhaul of conveyancing laws
A future Conservative government would abolish the Sentencing Council and Judicial Appointments Commission (JAC) and sack judges who defended migrants’ rights, shadow justice secretary Robert Jenrick has said
The right of the press to report on the criminal courts received a boost this week, following an update to the Criminal Procedure Rules
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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