BAILII: Recent Decisions

Posted February 3rd, 2026 in law reports by michael

Court of Appeal (Civil Division)

On Tower UK Ltd v AP Wireless II (UK) Ltd [2026] EWCA Civ 43 (03 February 2026)

Court of Appeal (Criminal Division)

Hodurek v Polish Judicial Authority [2026] EWHC 180 (Admin) (03 February 2026)

Ukpe (t/a Ikpaland Enterprises UK) v Southend Magistrates’ Court [2026] EWHC 192 (Admin) (02 February 2026)

Palka v The Local Court of Gorlitz, Germany [2026] EWHC 140 (Admin) (30 January 2026)

CHO, R (On the Application Of) v Governing Body of Lonsdale School & Ors [2026] EWHC 166 (Admin) (30 January 2026)

High Court (Commercial Court)

Limited Liability Company Air Company Air Manas v GTLK Middle East SPV Three Ltd [2026] EWHC 177 (Comm) (30 January 2026)

The Republic of India v CC Devas (Mauritius) Ltd (In Administration) & Ors [2026] EWHC 156 (Comm) (30 January 2026)

High Court (Family Division)

East Riding of Yorkshire Council v The Mother & Ors [2026] EWHC 181 (Fam) (02 February 2026)

High Court (Patents Court)

Parsons v Convatec Ltd (Re Strike Out and Split Trial Issues) [2026] EWHC 98 (Pat) (21 January 2026)

Merck Sharp & Dohme (UK) Ltd v Halozyme Inc [2026] EWHC 121 (Pat) (21 January 2026)

Warner Bros. Discovery Inc & Ors v Nokia Corporation & Anor [2026] EWHC 103 (Pat) (15 January 2026)

Amazon.com, Inc & Ors v Interdigital VC Holdings, Inc & Ors [2025] EWHC 3334 (Pat) (15 December 2025)

High Court (King’s Bench Division)

Casey & Ors v Environment Agency [2026] EWHC 178 (KB) (02 February 2026)

Surrey County Council v Persons Unknown & Ors [2026] EWHC 188 (KB) (02 February 2026)

Jones v Chief Constable of Essex Police [2026] EWHC 129 (KB) (02 February 2026)

High Court (Technology and Construction Court)

One Hyde Park Ltd v Laing O’Rourke Construction South Ltd [2026] EWHC 155 (TCC) (02 February 2026)

High Tech Construction Ltd v WLP Trading and Marketing Ltd [2026] EWHC 152 (TCC) (30 January 2026)

www.bailii.org

Company administrations – appointment of administrators ‘out of court’ by QFCH – need for enforceable floating charge – 33 Bedford Row

Posted February 3rd, 2026 in news by sally

‘In England and Wales, a company can enter an insolvency process/procedure known as ‘administration’. One of the ways a company may be put into administration- that is, have administrators appointed over the company – is by the holder of a qualifying floating charge over (all, or substantially all) the company’s assets, exercising a power under the Insolvency Act 1986, Schedule B1, paragraph 14, to so appoint. Such an appointment of administrators occurs ‘out of court’ (i.e. not by court order), and, is categorised as a method of ‘enforcement’.’

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33 Bedford Row, 18th January 2026

Source: www.33bedfordrow.co.uk

Mazur v Charles Russell Speechlys: Clarifying (and Complicating) the Conduct of Litigation – 39 Essex Chambers

Posted February 3rd, 2026 in news by sally

‘The decision of Sheldon J in Mazur v Charles Russell Speechlys [2025] EWHC 2341 (KB) has generated significant concern within the legal profession, particularly in firms that rely on supervised paralegals. Although the Judgment addresses a relatively narrow statutory question concerning the right to conduct litigation its implications for day‑to‑day litigation practice are widespread. This article provides a summary of the Judgment and identifies the practical issues that now arise.’

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39 Essex Chambers, 20th January 2026

Source: www.39essex.com

OS v DT: Shared Care and Child Maintenance – Becket Chambers

Posted February 3rd, 2026 in news by sally

‘The decision in OS v DT [2025] EWFC 156 (B), given by HHJ Hess and certified as citable, marks a significant development in child maintenance law where parents share the care of their children “exactly equally”.’

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Becket Chambers, 12th January 2026

Source: becket-chambers.co.uk

Cryptocurrency: What You Need To Know – Maria Karaiskos KC and Charlie Hutchins – Church Court Chambers

Posted February 3rd, 2026 in news by sally

‘Maria Karaiskos KC and Charlie Hutchins introduce the fundamentals of cryptocurrency and crypto assets and examine how crypto operates in practice, the developing UK regulatory framework, and the expanding powers around crypto assets under POCA.’

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Church Court Chambers, 2nd January 2026

Source: churchcourtchambers.co.uk

Employers prepare for the first phase of Employment Rights Act industrial relations changes – OUT-LAW.com

Posted February 3rd, 2026 in news by sally

‘The first stage of a major reformation of the relationship between employers and trade unions in the UK, which will begin its phased implementation later this month, will increase exposure for companies including those which have not previously engaged in industrial relations, according to an expert.’

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OUT-LAW.com, 2nd February 2026

Source: www.pinsentmasons.com

Lack of mental health beds contributed to UK teenager’s death, inquest finds – The Guardian

Posted February 3rd, 2026 in news by sally

‘A shortage of mental health beds and poor communication between agencies contributed to the death of a teenage girl on hospital grounds, an inquest has found.’

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The Guardian, 2nd February 2026

Source: www.theguardian.com

BAILII: Recent Decisions

Posted February 2nd, 2026 in law reports by michael

Supreme Court

Lewis-Ranwell v G4S Health Services (UK) Ltd and others [2026] UKSC 2 (21 January 2026)

Court of Appeal (Civil Division)

Breeze & Ors v TSB Bank PLC [2026] EWCA Civ 32 (30 January 2026)

Molnar v Secretary of State for the Home Department [2026] EWCA Civ 31 (29 January 2026)

Luton Landlords & Letting Agents Ltd, R (On the Application Of) v Luton Borough Council [2026] EWCA Civ 35 (29 January 2026)

Wysokinski v OCS Security Ltd [2026] EWCA Civ 26 (29 January 2026)

Di Maria, R (On the Application Of) v Commissioner of Police for the Metropolis [2026] EWCA Civ 28 (27 January 2026)

Mulumba v Partners Group (UK) Ltd & Anor [2026] EWCA Civ 30 (27 January 2026)

FS Commercial Ltd v Commissioners for His Majesty’s Revenue and Customs [2026] EWCA Civ 29 (27 January 2026)

The Federal Republic of Nigeria v VR Global Partners LP & Ors [2026] EWCA Civ 25 (23 January 2026)

Hampshire County Council v GC & Anor [2026] EWCA Civ 20 (23 January 2026)

Court of Appeal (Criminal Division)

Cosier, R. v [2026] EWCA Crim 2 (27 January 2026)

Joseph v Rex [2026] EWCA Crim 22 (23 January 2026)

High Court (Administrative Court)

Professional Standards Authority for Health and Social Care v Nursing and Midwifery Council & Anor (Rev1) [2026] EWHC 141 (Admin) (30 January 2026)

Secretary of State for Justice v White [2026] EWHC 163 (Admin) (30 January 2026)

Mayor and Commonalty and Citizens of the City of London v Robinson Webster (Holdings) Ltd [2026] EWHC 151 (Admin) (30 January 2026)

Wrotham Parish Council v Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government & Ors [2026] EWHC 165 (Admin) (30 January 2026)

CLT, R (On the Application Of) v London Borough of Hounslow [2026] EWHC 162 (Admin) (30 January 2026)

CHO, R (On the Application Of) v Governing Body of Lonsdale School & Ors [2026] EWHC 166 (Admin) (30 January 2026)

Palka v The Local Court of Gorlitz, Germany [2026] EWHC 140 (Admin) (30 January 2026)

Hannigan v Nursing and Midwifery Council [2026] EWHC 62 (Admin) (29 January 2026)

Sex Matters v Mayor and Commonalty and Citizens of the City of London [2026] EWHC 149 (Admin) (29 January 2026)

Tasib, R (On the Application Of) v Secretary of State for the Home Department [2026] EWHC 139 (Admin) (28 January 2026)

Herceg v Budapest Environs Regional Court (Hungary) [2026] EWHC 145 (Admin) (28 January 2026)

AH, R (on the application of) v Secretary of State for the Home Department [2026] EWHC 127 (Admin) (28 January 2026)

Ford, R (On the Application Of) v Parole Board for England and Wales [2026] EWHC 131 (Admin) (27 January 2026)

BUJ, A Protected Party, R (On the Application Of) v London Borough Of Bromley [2026] EWHC 102 (Admin) (27 January 2026)

Trail Riders Fellowship v Lincolnshire County Council [2026] EWHC 88 (Admin) (26 January 2026)

Prior & Anor, R (on the application of) v The Police Federation of England and Wales [2026] EWHC 124 (Admin) (26 January 2026)

EPX & Anor, R (On the Application Of) v Secretary of State for Defence [2026] EWHC 108 (Admin) (23 January 2026)

Green v Nursing and Midwifery Council [2026] EWHC 69 (Admin) (23 January 2026)

Launchbury v Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government & Ors [2026] EWHC 109 (Admin) (23 January 2026)

High Court (Chancery Division)

Uddin v Uddin [2026] EWHC 150 (Ch) (30 January 2026)

Brewer Management Corporation v Christie Manson & Woods Ltd [2026] EWHC 126 (Ch) (30 January 2026)

Castleton v Post Office Ltd & Anor [2026] EWHC 158 (Ch) (30 January 2026)

Smith & Ors v Campbell & Ors [2026] EWHC 144 (Ch) (29 January 2026)

Taylor v Taylor & Anor (Re Jamett Properties Ltd) [2026] EWHC 106 (Ch) (29 January 2026)

Harris & Anor v Quantick & Anor [2026] EWHC 137 (Ch) (29 January 2026)

Banner Universal Motion Pictures Ltd v Wiggin LLP & Anor [2026] EWHC 135 (Ch) (28 January 2026)

Lanigan & Anor v Hyslop & Ors (Re Styles & Wood Group Ltd) [2026] EWHC 128 (Ch) (28 January 2026)

Ginger & Ors v Mickleburgh & Ors [2026] EWHC 100 (Ch) (23 January 2026)

Webb & Anor v Eversholt Rail Ltd & Anor [2026] EWHC 101 (Ch) (22 January 2026)

High Court (Commercial Court)

Trafigura PTE Ltd & Anor v Gupta & Ors [2026] EWHC 159 (Comm) (30 January 2026)

IPJSC United Company Rusal v Whiteleave Holdings Ltd & Ors [2026] EWHC 154 (Comm) (30 January 2026)

McLaren Indy & Anor v Alpa Racing USA LLC & Ors [2026] EWHC 110 (Comm) (23 January 2026)

Mercuria Energy Trading SA v Onex DMCC [2026] EWHC 130 (Comm) (22 January 2026)

High Court (Family Division)

B v B and Ors (Section 83 ACA 2002 and Step-Parent Adoption) [2026] EWHC 97 (Fam) (26 January 2026)

Bradley v CM & Ors [2026] EWHC 125 (Fam) (26 January 2026)

High Court (King’s Bench Division)

Gilbert & Anor v Broadoak Private Finance Ltd [2026] EWHC 153 (KB) (30 January 2026)

CJ Jones Solicitors LLP (t/a CJJ Law) v Sapsford [2026] EWHC 142 (KB) (30 January 2026)

Dilks v Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change [2026] EWHC 146 (KB) (30 January 2026)

Bruce & Anor v High Speed Two (HS2) Ltd [2026] EWHC 134 (KB) (27 January 2026)

Ness v Miller [2026] EWHC 113 (KB) (27 January 2026)

Al-Masarir v Kingdom of Saudi Arabia [2026] EWHC 119 (KB) (26 January 2026)

Hanson Quarry Products Europe Ltd (t/a Heidelberg Materials UK) v Davies & Ors [2026] EWHC 118 (KB) (23 January 2026)

Curwen v Chief Constable of Cumbria Constabulary [2026] EWHC 115 (KB) (23 January 2026)

GQA Qualifications Ltd v Clayton [2026] EWHC 114 (KB) (23 January 2026)

Ali v Hussain [2026] EWHC 112 (KB) (23 January 2026)

www.bailii.org

Part 36 costs consequences and liability-only offers: a key development – 1 QMLR

Posted February 2nd, 2026 in news by sally

‘In Smithstone, the Court of Appeal addressed a key point of principle and uncertainty concerning cost consequences for liability-only Part 36 offers and marked a significant development for practitioners. The Court confirmed that Part 36 costs consequences can indeed be triggered by liability-only Part 36 offers, overturning and clarifying the position outlined in Mundy v TUI UK Ltd [2023] EWHC 385 (Ch). This decision is likely to prompt a rise in the use of such offers.’

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1 QMLR.2nd February 2026

Source: 1corqmlr.com

Driver jailed for killing man in West End rampage – BBC News

Posted February 2nd, 2026 in news by sally

‘A driver who killed a man and mowed down four others in a drink-fuelled rampage in London’s West End in the early hours of Christmas Day 2024 has been jailed for life with a minimum sentence of 37 years.’

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BBC News, 30th January 2026

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Immigration Law Review of the Year: Key Cases and Rule Changes From 2025 – EIN Blog

Posted February 2nd, 2026 in news by sally

‘Join barrister Adam Pipe for an hour-long webinar for DG Legal reviewing developments in UK immigration law during 2025, covering Immigration Rules changes, Home Office policy papers, key case law, and practical implications for advising clients and litigation practice.’

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EIN Blog, 30th January 2026

Source: www.ein.org.uk

Modern parents who fall between the legal gaps – Law Society’s Gazette

Posted February 2nd, 2026 in news by sally

‘A criticism often levelled at the law surrounding modern parenthood is that it has failed to keep pace with societal and technological change. The law is failing to remain fit for purpose for modern families. This can lead to practitioners having to find solutions to problems created by unforeseen gaps in the law, effectively making the law with each new case. For those who turn to the law to resolve a deeply personal issue, it is a distressing and uncertain landscape.’

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Law Society's Gazette, 30th January 2026

Source: www.lawgazette.co.uk

2026 marks a turning point for data governance in the UK – Kingsley Napley Corporate and Commercial Law Blog

Posted January 30th, 2026 in news by sally

‘2026 is shaping up to be the most consequential year for UK data protection enforcement since the introduction of the EU/UK GDPR regime. With record fines issued in late 2025, a new enforcement playbook on the horizon, and shifting legislative and regulatory expectations, the Information Commissioner’s Office (“ICO”) is signalling a marked transformation in how it supervises and sanctions organisations.’

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Kingsley Napley Corporate and Commercial Law Blog, 28th January 2026

Source: www.kingsleynapley.co.uk

Sex Matters and standing – Administrative Court Blog

Posted January 30th, 2026 in news by sally

‘Sex Matters is a campaigning organisation which was set up in 2021 and which, controversially, obtained charitable status in 2024. Its stated objectives are to “promote human rights where they relate to sex”, “advance education about sex and the law” and to “promote the sound administration of the law in relation to sex and equality in the law”. However, its recent campaigns have focused almost exclusively against the inclusion of trans women in single sex spaces.’

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Administrative Court Blog, 29th January 2026

Source: administrativecourtblog.wordpress.com

Daughters of forest recluse win £1m inheritance battle against ‘domineering’ aunt – The Independent

Posted January 30th, 2026 in news by sally

‘Four daughters have successfully challenged their “domineering” aunt in a court battle over the £1 million estate of their eccentric father, a man described as a “son of the Forest”.’

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The Independent, 30th January 2026

Source: www.independent.co.uk

Mental capacity concerns in family mediation – Kingsley Napley Family Law Blog

Posted January 30th, 2026 in news by sally

‘Family dynamics are complex at the best of times. When one family member is unwell, stress and worry can quickly lead to friction and mistrust among siblings and parents alike.’

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Kingsley Napley Family Law Blog, 29th January 2026

Source: www.kingsleynapley.co.uk

‘A disaster for disabled people’: Shabana Mahmood urged not to scrap recording of non-crime hate incidents – The Guardian

Posted January 30th, 2026 in news by sally

‘It would be “a disaster for disabled people” if police stop recording and investigating lower-level incidents of abuse that often lead to more serious hate crimes, according to researchers and campaigners.’

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The Guardian, 29th January 2026

Source: www.theguardian.com

Lawyers sign letter to Starmer calling for “universal” anti-SLAPPs law – Legal Futures

Posted January 30th, 2026 in news by sally

‘A group of media lawyers, including newspaper general counsel and KCs, have put their names to an open letter to Prime Minister Keir Starmer calling for stronger anti-SLAPP provisions.’

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Legal Futures, 30th January 2026

Source: www.legalfutures.co.uk

Journalist allowed to read psychologist’s reports – Transparency Project

Posted January 30th, 2026 in news by sally

‘A significant decision has been made by Mr Justice Poole in the High Court, allowing a journalist access to a number of psychological reports that were commissioned in family proceedings. Although when a Transparency Order (TO) is made under the Reporting Provisions a journalist or legal blogger can be given copies of certain court documents, this list doesn’t include expert witness reports or Cafcass reports. A second important feature of this judgment is that the journalist successfully applied for access to some documents in cases where she hadn’t been to court to get a TO.’

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Transparency Project, 29th January 2026

Source: transparencyproject.org.uk

Judge blocks charity’s challenge over trans people’s use of Hampstead ponds single-sex facilities – The Guardian

Posted January 30th, 2026 in news by sally

‘A legal challenge brought by a charity over transgender people’s access to single-sex facilities at swimming ponds in Hampstead Heath has failed at the high court.’

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The Guardian, 29th January 2026

Source: www.theguardian.com