Upper Tribunal allows appeal over ability to give evidence by video link in housing management case – Local Government Lawyer

Posted May 15th, 2026 in news by Simon

‘The First-Tier Tribunal (Property Chamber) wrongly told a landlord that he could not give evidence by video link from the Czech Republic in a dispute over a financial penalty imposed by Salford City Council.’

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Local Government Lawyer, 14th May 2026

Source: www.localgovernmentlawyer.co.uk

Ministers must “urgently provide clarity” on lack of remote meetings and standards provisions in King’s Speech, LLG and ADSO say – Local Government Lawyer

Posted May 15th, 2026 in news by Simon

‘Lawyers in Local Government (LLG) and the Association of Democratic Services Officers (ADSO) have said they are “extremely disappointed” by the absence of provisions on remote meetings and standards reform in the King’s Speech.’

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Local Government Lawyer, 14th May 2026

Source: www.localgovernmentlawyer.co.uk

CPS sets out prosecutorial approach to large-scale protests this weekend – Crown Prosecution Service

Posted May 15th, 2026 in news by Simon

‘Prosecutors have been issued new legal guidance on the use of offensive banners, slogans, chants or symbols to recognise the changing national and international context and increase in hate crime ahead of significant planned protests in London this weekend.’

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Crown Prosecution Service, 15th May 2026

Source: www.cps.gov.uk

Monumental Welsh Women exhibition opens at the Royal Courts of Justice – Courts and Tribunals Judiciary

Posted May 15th, 2026 in news by Simon

‘A new exhibition spotlighting five pioneering Welsh women has opened at the Royal Courts of Justice as part of an ongoing initiative to use the Great Hall as a law-related exhibition space.’

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Courts and Tribunals Judiciary, 14th May 2026

Source: www.judiciary.uk

Interesting issues in indemnity insurance – Part 2 – Pensions Barrister

Posted May 15th, 2026 in news by Simon

In the second of his alliteratively titled articles on trustee indemnity insurance, Paul Newman KC considers the circumstances in which pension trustees can use scheme assets to purchase run-off insurance cover during the winding-up of the scheme.’

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Pensions Barrister, 14th May 2026

Source: www.pensionsbarrister.com

King’s speech: Law Society calls for ‘sustained investment’ – Law Society Gazette

Posted May 15th, 2026 in news by Simon

‘Responding to the legislative programme laid out in the King’s speech, Law Society president Mark Evans called for justice system reforms to be backed with “sustained investment to address longstanding pressures and ensure access to justice for all”.’

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Law Society Gazette, 14th May 2026

Source: www.lawgazette.co.uk

Judge refers solicitors to SRA over ‘inexcusable’ submission of AI-generated authorities – Law Society Gazette

Posted May 15th, 2026 in news by Simon

‘Two more solicitors have been referred to the Solicitors Regulation Authority over the submission of AI-generated authorities to court.’

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Law Society Gazette, 14th May 2026

Source: www.lawgazette.co.uk

UK ministers accused of weakening legal protections for torture victims – The Guardian

Posted May 15th, 2026 in news by Simon

‘Keir Starmer’s government has been accused of trying to water down legal protections for torture victims as ministers from 46 countries including the UK prepare to make it easier to deport refused asylum seekers and foreign criminals.’

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The Guardian, 14th May 2026

Source: www.theguardian.com

BAILII: Recent Decisions

Posted May 14th, 2026 in law reports by michael

Court of Appeal (Civil Division)

Ogunkami v Chia [2026] EWCA Civ 588 (13 May 2026)

Lifestyle Equities CV & Anor v Frasers Group Trading Ltd (formerly called Sportsdirect.com Retail Ltd) & Ors [2026] EWCA Civ 583 (12 May 2026)

Court of Appeal (Criminal Division)

Twigg & Anor, R. v [2026] EWCA Crim 587 (14 May 2026)

High Court (Administrative Court)

LLJ, R (On the Application Of) v The London Borough of Hackney [2026] EWHC 1145 (Admin) (14 May 2026)

Hollinworth v Valuation Tribunal for England & Wakefield Met District Council, Billing Authority [2026] EWHC 1149 (Admin) (14 May 2026)

High Court (Chancery Division)

Bargain Busting Ltd v Shenzhen SKE Technology Company Ltd & Ors (Re Consequential Matters) [2026] EWHC 1146 (Ch) (13 May 2026)

Source: www.bailii.org

Sentencing Council publishes new guideline for sentencing hare coursing offences – Sentencing Council

Posted May 14th, 2026 in news by Simon

The Sentencing Council has published a new guideline for offences related to hare coursing which will come into effect on 1 June 2026.’

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Sentencing Council, 14th May 2026

Source: sentencingcouncil.org.uk

The Court of Appeal rejects the premature restriction of scope in domestic abuse inquest – Quarterly Medical Law Review

Posted May 14th, 2026 in news by Simon

‘The Court of Appeal (Newey, Edis and Whipple LJJs) has allowed the appeal in R (on the application of O’Brien) v HM Assistant Coroner for Sefton, Knowsley and St Helens [2026] EWCA Civ 499. It quashed the coroner’s decision on scope, and remitted the matter to a different coroner for reconsideration of scope, jury, and Article 2 issues. The key takeaway is that coroners must not pre‑determine causation on the basis of incomplete material. Where there is a realistic evidential pathway to a causal finding, the scope of the inquest must accommodate it.’

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Quarterly Medical Law Review, 14th May 2026

Source: 1corqmlr.com

Generative AI in complaints and requests: Opportunities, risks and implications for public bodies – Local Government Lawyer

Posted May 14th, 2026 in news by Simon

‘Generative AI can offer a host of benefits to members of the public when interacting with public bodies, particularly to individuals who may previously have faced difficulties in composing formal correspondence, such as a complaint or request for information. However, the increasing use of generative AI is placing strain on public bodies, who are under legal duties to properly consider, verify and meaningfully respond to complaints and requests. The challenge for public bodies is in maintaining fairness, consistency and transparency when handling increasing volumes of AI-generated submissions.’

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Local Government Lawyer, 13th May 2026

Source: www.localgovernmentlawyer.co.uk

King’s Speech: No litigation funding, SLAPPs or AML reform – Legal Futures

Posted May 14th, 2026 in news by Simon

‘The King’s Speech yesterday was notable as much for what was not in it as what was included.’

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Legal Futures, 14th May 2026

Source: www.legalfutures.co.uk

Cafcass reports sharp rise in private law children cases across England – Family Law

Posted May 14th, 2026 in news by Simon

‘New figures published by Cafcass show a significant increase in demand across the family justice system, with private law children cases rising sharply during the 2025–26 financial year and reaching their highest monthly level in five years.’

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Family Law, 11th May 2026

Source: www.familylaw.co.uk

Government review highlights impact and ongoing challenges five years after Domestic Abuse Act – Family Law

Posted May 14th, 2026 in news by Simon

‘The Government has published its long-awaited post-legislative scrutiny memorandum on the Domestic Abuse Act 2021, setting out its assessment of the landmark legislation five years after it received Royal Assent.’

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Family Law, 11th May 2026

Source: www.familylaw.co.uk

Speech by Mr Justice Nicklin: Open Justice and the Missing Dimension – Courts and Tribunals Judiciary

Posted May 14th, 2026 in news by Simon

‘Today, however, I do not want to deliver a general lecture on the constitutional foundations of open justice. I want to talk about something more specific and more practical: access to documents – because in modern civil justice, if open justice does not follow the documents, it risks becoming an illusion rather than a reality.’

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Courts and Tribunals Judiciary, 13th May 2026

Source: www.judiciary.uk

Time to ratify the safety convention, says Bar Council – Bar Council

Posted May 14th, 2026 in news by Simon

‘The Bar Council is calling on the UK Government to ratify the Council of Europe’s Convention on the Protection of the Profession of Lawyer (the Luxembourg Treaty) on the anniversary of its launch.’

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Bar Council, 13th May 2026

Source: www.barcouncil.org.uk

Understanding the New UK Asylum Rules: What Has Changed? – EIN Blog

Posted May 14th, 2026 in news by Simon

‘The UK asylum system has changed a lot in recent years. New rules and policies have affected how asylum claims are made, how they are decided, and what people seeking protection may face during the process.

‘For asylum seekers, advisers and those working in immigration law, it is important to understand what these changes may mean in practice.’

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EIN Blog, 13th May 2026

Source: www.ein.org.uk

Post Office scandal victim wins appeal over £2m trial split – Law Society Gazette

Posted May 14th, 2026 in news by Simon

‘A high-profile victim of the Post Office scandal has won a preliminary argument about his own civil claim in the Court of Appeal. Former sub-postmaster Lee Castleton challenged the court’s decision from earlier this year that his claim against the Post Office should be broken into split trials.’

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Law Society Gazette, 14th May 2026

Source: www.lawgazette.co.uk

King’s speech: Criminal justice and leasehold reforms still on agenda – Law Society Gazette

Posted May 14th, 2026 in news by Simon

‘The government of embattled prime minister Sir Keir Starmer today signalled its intention to proceed with reforms to the criminal justice system. As widely expected, the King’s speech also included a promise of legislation to reform leasehold, including the capping of ground rents.’

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Law Society Gazette, 13th May 2026

Source: www.lawgazette.co.uk