Must lawyers disclose a client’s whereabouts? – Yasin Patel – Church Court Chambers

Posted October 23rd, 2026 in news by Simon

‘The question of client-lawyer privilege and how far it extends is something that challenges legal minds everywhere. Lawyers are generally of the belief that what is discussed between them and their client(s) is confidential. That the client can be secure in that knowledge. So, when a court orders solicitors to disclose the details of a clients whereabouts including phone number, address and telephone number, what does the lawyer do? Are they obliged to do so, or do they fall within Legal Professional Privilege (“LPP”)?’

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Church Court Chambers, 27th September 2026

Source: churchcourtchambers.co.uk

Changes to retrial rules in extradition cases from September 2026 – George Hepburne Scott – Church Court Chambers

Posted October 23rd, 2026 in news by Simon

‘New provisions affecting extradition after a conviction in the requested person’s absence are due to take effect on 29 September 2026. Section 246 of the Crime and Policing Act 2026 amends section 20 of the Extradition Act 2003, which concerns Part 1 cases, and section 85, which concerns Part 2 cases.’

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Church Court Chambers, 23rd September 2026

Source: churchcourtchambers.co.uk

Parental Alienation and the Shrinking Role of the Expert: Assessing a Child’s Resistance to Contact After Re Y (Experts and Alienating Behaviour: The Modern Approach) – Becket Chambers

Posted October 23rd, 2026 in news by Simon

‘Few situations trouble the family court more than the child who will not see a parent. The instinct when a child resists, refuses or is reluctant to spend time with a mother or father, is to reach for an explanation. For many years that instinct led, almost reflexively, to the instruction of a psychologist. The assumption was that the reasons for a child’s hostility lay in some hidden psychological terrain that only an expert could map. Two decisions of the President of the Family Division, read alongside the Family Justice Council’s 2024 guidance, have now made plain how mistaken that assumption often is.’

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Becket Chambers, 30th September 2026

Source: becket-chambers.co.uk

The Price of Unreasonable Behaviour: Costs on the Small Claims Track – Becket Chambers

Posted October 23rd, 2026 in news by Simon

‘The Small Claims Track is a prominent feature of the civil justice system, designed to provide a proportionate and accessible means of resolving lower-value and simpler disputes with reduced formality and expense. It strikes a balance between procedural formalities and fair and comprehensive determination of the parties’ rights, resulting in a number of differences from general civil litigation. Examples include inapplicability of Part 36 Offers to Settle; limited disclosure; and lay representatives obtaining rights of audience from the presiding judge where the party attends.’

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Becket Chambers, 29th September 2026

Source: becket-chambers.co.uk

Bar Council calls for withdrawal of all ICC sanctions – Bar Council

Posted October 23rd, 2026 in news by Simon

‘Legal organisations have joined together to condemn the latest sanctions imposed on the International Criminal Court (ICC) by the Trump administration.’

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Bar Council, 22nd October 2026

Source: www.barcouncil.org.uk

Lord Snowden speaks to BBC Radio about his background and career in the Law – Supreme Court

Posted October 23rd, 2026 in news by Simon

‘Lord Snowden, who was appointed to the Supreme Court earlier this year, has spoken to BBC Radio about his early life and background in Redcar, Cleveland, and his subsequent rise through the legal profession to the UK’s highest court.’

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Supreme Court, 23rd October 2026

Source: www.supremecourt.uk

The 2026 Administrative Court Guide: time limits, urgent applications and AI – Local Government Lawyer

Posted October 23rd, 2026 in news by Simon

‘Paul Henty, Head of Public Procurement at Beale & Co, sets out three things from the 2026 Administrative Court Guide that should change how council legal teams work.’

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Local Government Lawyer, 23rd October 2026

Source: www.localgovernmentlawyer.co.uk

Court of Appeal “astonished” by £2m brief fee for four-day case – Legal Futures

Posted October 23rd, 2026 in news by Simon

‘The Court of Appeal has described as “astonishing” a £2m brief fee for leading counsel, plus refreshers of £20,000 a day, to act on an appeal set to last four days.’

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Legal Futures, 23rd October 2026

Source: www.legalfutures.co.uk

Research Briefing: The Building Safety (Remediation of Unsafe Cladding etc) Bill 2026-27 – House of Commons Library

Posted October 23rd, 2026 in news by Simon

‘The Building Safety (Remediation of Unsafe Cladding etc) Bill was introduced on 14 October 2026 to address historical safety risks and ensure remediation of unsafe cladding.’

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House of Commons Library, 23rd October 2026

Source: commonslibrary.parliament.uk

Small sponsors are the canary – EIN Blog

Posted October 23rd, 2026 in news by Simon

‘In August I argued that the cost of sponsorship was quietly pricing smaller employers out. Since then the enforcement numbers have climbed and the September changes to the sponsor portal have landed. Small firms are where any strain in the system shows up first, and nobody is publishing the data that would show it.’

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EIN Blog, 23rd October 2026

Source: www.ein.org.uk

Bridging the Bar – six years on: Mass Ndow-Njie & Aaron Mayers – Counsel

Posted October 23rd, 2026 in news by Simon

‘Two pupil barristers saw a problem they couldn’t ignore. Six years on, Mass Ndow-Njie and Aaron Mayers reflect on Bridging the Bar’s growth, the paradox at its heart, and the work still to be done.’

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Counsel, 19th October 2026

Source: www.counselmagazine.co.uk

Consumers must be at the heart of class action reform, says Law Society – Law Society Gazette

Posted October 23rd, 2026 in news by Simon

‘Consumers must be at the heart of any new class actions regime, the Law Society has told the Law Commission’s consultation into possible expansion of the current collective redress scheme. “There is a public interest in holding businesses and other entities to account where individual consumer losses are too small to make litigation economically viable, but the aggregate impact of the underlying conduct is significant,” the Society said. ‘

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Law Society Gazette, 22nd October 2026

Source: www.lawgazette.co.uk

The White House Farm massacre – exclusive: new forensic evidence suggests Sheila Caffell killed herself. Is Jeremy Bamber innocent? – The Guardian

Posted October 23rd, 2026 in news by Simon

‘In 1985, Bamber was sentenced to life imprisonment for killing five members of his family. Now analysis of crime scene photographs by a leading forensic biologist could exonerate him.’

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The Guardian, 23rd October 2026

Source: www.theguardian.com

Career criminal jailed for stealing 350-year-old map from National Maritime Museum – The Independent

Posted October 23rd, 2026 in news by Simon

‘A career criminal who stole a “historically unique” 350-year-old map from a museum and refused to reveal its location has been jailed for three years.’

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The Independent, 22nd October 2026

Source: www.independent.co.uk

Judge to decide trial after jury tampering claim – BBC News

Posted October 23rd, 2026 in news by Simon

‘A judge has discharged the jury in the trial of five men accused of carrying out a machete attack in Bradford, following allegations of jury tampering.’

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BBC News, 22nd October 2026

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Detective raped by colleague says Met handling of case ‘like being raped again’ – BBC News

Posted October 23rd, 2026 in news by Simon

‘A Metropolitan Police detective, who was raped by a fellow officer, has told the BBC that Scotland Yard’s handling of her case was “like being raped all over again”.’

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BBC News, 23rd October 2026

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

BAILII: Recent Decisions

Posted October 22nd, 2026 in law reports by michael

Supreme Court

ScottishPower (SCPL) Limited and others v Commissioners for His Majesty’s Revenue and Customs [2026] UKSC 35 (21 October 2026)

Court of Appeal (Civil Division)

Antoniou v Morgan (Rev1) [2026] EWCA Civ 1363 (21 October 2026)

Municipio de Mariana v BHP Group (UK) Ltd & Anor [2026] EWCA Civ 1319 (16 October 2026)

Court of Appeal (Criminal Division)

Kelly, R. v [2026] EWCA Crim 1348 (07 October 2026)

McEwan, R. v [2026] EWCA Crim 1325 (29 September 2026)

Jones, R. v [2026] EWCA Crim 1347 (29 September 2026)

High Court (Business & Property Division)

Rudan Business Holdings SA v Tridan Trusted Advisors AG & Ors [2026] EWHC 2689 (BP) (19 October 2026)

High Court (Commercial Court)

Ithaca Prospect LLC & Anor v Lloyd’s Insurance Company SA & Ors [2026] EWHC 2700 (Comm) (21 October 2026)

High Court (Family Division)

AL (A Child)(Abduction: Spain: Art 13b: Mental Health), Re [2026] EWHC 2705 (Fam) (22 October 2026)

Source: www.bailii.org

Attorney General and Treasury Solicitor publish statement on talent and opportunity at the Bar – Attorney General’s Office

Posted October 22nd, 2026 in news by Simon

‘The Attorney General and Treasury Solicitor have published a Diversity and Inclusion Statement for the Bar, setting out how the Government Legal Department (GLD) will work with chambers and counsel to support diversity, equitable access to work, and career progression across the Attorney General’s Civil and EU Panel of Counsel.’

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Attorney General’s Office, 22nd October 2026

Source: www.gov.uk

UK data breach litigation and the search for a sustainable claims model – Local Government Lawyer

Posted October 22nd, 2026 in news by Simon

‘Earlier this month the Supreme Court heard an appeal over whether a threshold of seriousness of harm applies to claims for damages following a data breach. Richard Breavington and Astrid Hardy consider the potential wider impact of the case.’

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Local Government Lawyer, 22nd October 2026

Source: www.localgovernmentlawyer.co.uk

Use of AI by public bodies creating barriers to judicial review, says access to justice charity – Local Government Lawyer

Posted October 22nd, 2026 in news by Simon

‘The lack of transparency around public authorities’ use of artificial intelligence (AI) in decision-making is creating barriers for those wishing to challenge decisions through judicial review, the Public Law Project (PLP) has warned.’

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Local Government Lawyer, 21st October 2026

Source: www.localgovernmentlawyer.co.uk