Commercial Court provides guidance on pre-action disclosure in commercial cases: asymmetry of information in misrepresentation claims will not take a case out of “the usual run” – Wilberforce Chambers

Posted August 5th, 2026 in news by michael

‘The Commercial Court has given judgment in the matter of Union Bancaire Privée, UBP SA v L Catterton Europe SAS [2026] EWHC 2041 (Comm), a pre-action disclosure application in the context of a proposed deceit claim involving a private equity fund. The decision provides helpful guidance as to the circumstances in which the court will, and will not, order pre-action disclosure in commercial cases.’

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Wilberforce Chambers, 3rd August 2026

Source: www.wilberforce.co.uk

High Court upholds Met Police 90-day WhatsApp auto-deletion policy despite ICO concerns – Local Government Lawyer

Posted August 5th, 2026 in news by michael

‘The High Court has dismissed a judicial review challenge to Metropolitan Police guidance requiring officers to activate WhatsApp’s disappearing messages function on force-issued devices, upholding the lawfulness of a policy that automatically deletes conversations after 90 days despite documented concerns from the Information Commissioner’s Office and the force’s own data protection impact assessment.’

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Local Government Lawyer, 4th August 2026

Source: www.localgovernmentlawyer.co.uk

Abuse of faculty jurisdiction in Oxford Diocese – Law & Religion UK

Posted August 5th, 2026 in news by michael

‘Re St. Mary-le-Moor Cadmore End [2026] ECC Oxf 12. An unopposed retrospective faculty application for the alteration of two original pews and their installation in the porch of St. Mary-le-Moor Cadmore End, was made against the background of a 2018 quinquennial inspection report; this report reiterated the need to undertake significant repairs to the nave roof. The unintended consequences of proceeding with the unauthorised installation of the pews have had an impact on the undertaking of developments in the parish over the next two years.’

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Law & Religion UK, 5th August 2026

Source: lawandreligionuk.com

The High Court finds unfair prejudice in removal of founder from Big Motoring World by private equity investor – Wilberforce Chambers

Posted August 5th, 2026 in news by michael

‘Peter Waddell and another v Bluebell Cars Holding and others [2026] EWHC 2028 (Ch). The case concerned whether Mr Waddell’s removal was properly carried out under the investment agreement, in light of both the company’s performance and an investigation into Waddell’s conduct. Mr Waddell alleged that his removal was unlawful and brought through his company (PWHL)  an unfair prejudice petition against Freshstream, Big Motoring World and two directors who had been appointed by Freshstream.’

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Wilberforce Chambers, 3rd August 2026

Source: www.wilberforce.co.uk

High Court publishes reasons for council injunction against flags on lampposts – Local Government Lawyer

Posted August 5th, 2026 in news by michael

‘Mr Justice Dias has published his reasoning behind Oxfordshire County Council’s successful claim for an injunction in the High Court preventing individuals from attaching flags to highway infrastructure, saying that there was “little prospect absent an injunction” that the activity would stop.’

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Local Government Lawyer, 3rd August 2026

Source: www.localgovernmentlawyer.co.uk

Northumbrian Water: Court rules on conditional increases – Pensions Barrister

Posted August 5th, 2026 in news by michael

The High Court has today [3rd August] handed down judgment in Northumbrian Water Ltd v Northumbrian Water Pension Trustees Ltd [2026] EWHC 1952 (Ch). The case concerned rules guaranteeing annual pension increases in line with RPI up to 5%, with any excess payable where the trustee considered, after consulting the scheme actuary, that this could be done without increasing the employer’s ordinary annual contributions. The disputed excess increases affected some 2,000 members and had an estimated value of about £26 million.’

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Pensions Barrister, 3rd August 2026

Source: www.pensionsbarrister.com

Court of Appeal substantially allows appeal in major partnership dispute – Wilberforce Chambers

Posted August 5th, 2026 in news by michael

‘Titanium Capital Investments Limited & Anor v Hughes and Ors [2026] EWCA Civ 97.The Court of Appeal has handed down a significant judgment on the Partnership Act 1890 (the “1890 Act”) sections 29, 42 and 38. The appeal was by the Defendants against the Claimants and Additional Parties in a partnership dispute concerning a business that sold Covid Tests (LFTs) for a period of less than 7 months before the First Defendant, Mr Hughes, dissolved the partnership because, as he said in his notice of dissolution, he no longer trusted the Second Claimant, Mr Manduca.’

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Wilberforce Chambers, 31st July 2026

Source: www.wilberforce.co.uk

Prioritising Children? Competing Principles in Financial Remedies Reform – Financial Remedies Journal

Posted August 5th, 2026 in news by michael

A fairer end to relationships identifies four guiding principles: prioritising fair outcomes for children, protecting the vulnerable, providing a clear and accessible framework and protecting the distinct status of marriage. A fifth principle, autonomy, is referred to throughout the consultation, although it is not included in the list of guiding principles. Naturally, these principles can pull in different directions. Whilst the consultation does not explicitly acknowledge the tension or explain how the principles have been balanced with one another, such an analysis is, in our view, essential to promote a coherent framework. Focusing on outcomes for children, we analyse how this is weighed with autonomy and protecting the status of marriage, and whether the consultation always strikes the right balance.

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Financial Remedies Journal, 4th August 2026

Source: financialremediesjournal.com

Court of Appeal decision on IP accounts of profits and the Court’s jurisdiction to award interest – Wilberforce Chambers

Posted August 5th, 2026 in news by michael

‘After a four-day appeal hearing the Court of Appeal has given judgment in a number of appeals in Lufthansa v Astronics & Ors [2026] EWCA Civ 964. The main appeal concerned the significant issue of the proper approach to identifying the profits derived from infringement of a patent for the purposes of the exercise identified in s.61(1)(d) of the Patents Act 1977. One of the other appeals in the case concerned interest: what jurisdiction did the court have to award interest on such profits, was such jurisdiction available in respect of the period prior to the election (i.e. the election to take profits rather than damages), and what was the principled approach to the exercise of discretion as to the interest rate to apply?’

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Wilberforce Chambers, 30th July 2026

Source: www.wilberforce.co.uk

Don’t forget the pet! Sarah Lucy Cooper appears on Law and Disorder Podcast – Thomas More Chambers

Posted August 5th, 2026 in news by michael

‘Sarah Lucy Cooper is interviewed in the latest Law and Disorder Podcast on 11th July 2026 – The episode is entitled Don’t forget the pet – Does Family Law need to be amended for our animal Friends?’

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Thomas More Chambers, 12th July 2026

Source: www.thomasmore.co.uk

New guidance on single-sex spaces comes into force – BBC News

Posted August 5th, 2026 in news by michael

‘Single-sex spaces open to the public, such as toilets and changing rooms, should be organised based on biological sex, according to official guidance that has come into force.’

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BBC News, 5th August 2026

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Surgeon struck off after wrongly connecting organs – BBC News

Posted August 5th, 2026 in news by michael

‘A doctor who botched an operation so badly it was described as “not compatible with life” has been struck off the medical register.’

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BBC News, 4th August 2026

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Teacher who modified pupils’ coursework and ‘didn’t really teach’ banned from the classroom – The Independent

Posted August 5th, 2026 in news by michael

‘A teacher who amended pupils’ coursework and awarded their grades “dishonestly” has been banned from the classroom.’

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The Independent, 4th August 2026

Source: www.independent.co.uk

Gatwick airport to open second runway after legal challenge fails – The Guardian

Posted August 5th, 2026 in news by michael

‘The court of appeal on Tuesday [4th August] dismissed a bid by local campaign groups to challenge an earlier high court ruling that the scheme could proceed.’

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The Guardian, 4th August 2026

Source: www.theguardian.com

BAILII: Recent Decisions

Posted August 4th, 2026 in law reports by michael

Court of Appeal (Civil Division)

Barclay & Anor v Secretary of State for Transport [2026] EWCA Civ 1040 (04 August 2026)

Argence-Lafon v Ark Syndicate Management Ltd [2026] EWCA Civ 1039 (04 August 2026)

Re B (A Child: Uncertain Perpetrator) [2026] EWCA Civ 1024 (31 July 2026)

Orton v Barclays Bank UK Plc [2026] EWCA Civ 1025 (31 July 2026)

High Court (Administrative Court)

Peart, R (On the Application Of) v The Secretary of State for Environment, Food And Rural Affairs [2026] EWHC 2052 (Admin) (03 August 2026)

High Court (Chancery Division)

Espire Infolabs Ltd v Sharma [2026] EWHC 2061 (Ch) (04 August 2026)

Hawridge Strategic Land Ltd v Millen Homes Ltd [2026] EWHC 1934 (Ch) (04 August 2026)

Northumbrian Water Ltd v Northumbrian Water Pension Trustees Ltd & Anor [2026] EWHC 1952 (Ch) (03 August 2026)

High Court (Commercial Court)

A1 & Ors v P [2026] EWHC 2030 (Comm) (31 July 2026)

High Court (King’s Bench Division)

Harforth v Rose Island Properties Ltd [2026] EWHC 2037 (KB) (31 July 2026)

High Court (Technology and Construction Court)

TTSJV WLL & Ors v BapCo Refining BSC [2026] EWHC 2047 (TCC) (04 August 2026)

E & TL Jones (Civils) Ltd v Vale of Glamorgan Council [2026] EWHC 2054 (TCC) (04 August 2026)

Source: www.bailii.org

Grooming gang found guilty of exploiting teenage girls for sex – BBC News

Posted August 4th, 2026 in news by sally

‘Four men and a woman have been found guilty of being part of a grooming gang that exploited teenage girls for sex.’

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BBC News, 3rd August 2026

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Women mistaken for Just Stop Oil sue Met Police over ‘wrongful arrests’ before King’s coronation – The Independent

Posted August 4th, 2026 in news by sally

‘Animal rights campaigners who say they were wrongly arrested for planning to disrupt the King’s coronation are taking legal action against the Metropolitan Police.’

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The Independent, 4th August 2026

Source: www.independent.co.uk

Wild Justice: academic claims, advisory declarations and hypothetical questions – Administrative Court Blog

Posted August 4th, 2026 in news by sally

‘Public lawyers are familiar with the jurisdiction to grant a declaration where a claim has become academic, in circumstances where there is “good reason in the public interest”, and to do so would serve a “real and practical” purpose. Fordham J declined the invitation to grant declaratory relief relief in Wild Justice ont he basis that the alleged unlawful act had not in fact taken place; he was being asked a hypothetical, “would-if” question rather than dealing with an academic claim.’

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Administrative Court Blog, 31st July 2026

Source: administrativecourtblog.wordpress.com

“Prophetic dreams” as a protected belief? Daudet – Law & Religion UK

Posted August 4th, 2026 in news by sally

‘In Mr R Daudet v Computacenter (UK) Limited [2024] 2301071/2023, Mr Daudet claimed unfair dismissal under s.98 Employment Rights Act 1996; direct discrimination because of race and/or religion or belief under s.13 Equality Act 2020, harassment related to race and/or religion or belief under s.26 Equality Act, and breach of contract. In brief, Computacenter said that the reason for his dismissal was that he had harassed a female employee.’

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Law & Religion UK, 4th August 2026

Source: lawandreligionuk.com

Recoverability of costs – Law Society’s Gazette

Posted August 4th, 2026 in news by sally

‘Section 63(3) is a non-mandatory provision of the Arbitration Act 1996 (the act), which confers on the arbitral tribunal the power to determine the recoverable costs of the arbitration on such basis as it considers appropriate, unless the parties have agreed otherwise. Where it does so, the tribunal must specify the basis on which the costs have been assessed, the items of recoverable costs and the amount awarded for each item (s63(3)(a) and (b))).’

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Law Society's Gazette, 31st July 2026

Source: www.lawgazette.co.uk