Watchdog steps in over secrecy about UK women in Syria stripped of citizenship – The Guardian

‘The Home Office’s refusal to disclose the number of women who, like Shamima Begum, have been deprived of their British citizenship after travelling to join Islamic State is under investigation by the information commissioner.’

Full Story

The Guardian, 29th March 2021

Source: www.theguardian.com

‘Informed consent’ fees dispute set for Court of Appeal showdown – Law Society’s Gazette

‘Afees dispute in a personal injury claim with the potential to affect thousands of similar cases is set to be contested in the Court of Appeal.’

Full Story

Law Society's Gazette, 24th March 2021

Source: www.lawgazette.co.uk

Judge allows use of documents shared by mistake – Law Society’s Gazette

Posted March 23rd, 2021 in disclosure, documents, evidence, news, privilege, solicitors, witnesses by sally

‘A High Court judge has granted defendants permission to use documents inadvertently shared by the claimants’ solicitors before trial.’

Full Story

Law Society's Gazette, 22nd March 2021

Source: www.lawgazette.co.uk

Court allows defendants to use statements disclosed by mistake – Litigation Futures

Posted March 22nd, 2021 in disclosure, documents, evidence, news, privilege, solicitors, witnesses by tracey

‘The High Court has granted permission to defendants to use the contents of four otherwise privileged witness statements which were disclosed by the claimants’ solicitors by mistake.’

Full Story

Litigation Futures, 22nd March 2021

Source: www.litigationfutures.com

Improper Non-Disclosure of a Complainant’s Medical Records – Pump Court Chambers

‘A Complainant (“C”) refuses to consent to his GP providing the Crown with medical records. The Defendant (“D”) has requested disclosure of these records, on the understanding that C has a history of prolonged substance abuse and mental health concerns. C has also indicated that he believes information within the records is detrimental to the Crown’s case; hence, his refusal.’

Full Story

Pump Court Chambers, 25th February 2021

Source: www.pumpcourtchambers.com

Nazir Ahmed trial collapses due to ‘disgraceful’ late disclosure of evidence – The Guardian

‘The trial of a former Labour peer accused of sexually abusing younger children has collapsed due a “disgraceful” late disclosure of evidence by the prosecution, a judge has said.’

Full Story

The Guardian, 9th March 2021

Source: www.theguardian.com

Women ‘almost twice as likely’ to have criminal records disclosed when applying for work – The Independent

Posted March 9th, 2021 in criminal records, disclosure, employment, news, recruitment, reports, vetting by tracey

‘Women are almost twice as likely as men to have their criminal records disclosed when applying for a job, and to suffer “sustained stigma” from employers, a new study has found.’

Full Story

The Independent, 8th March 2021

Source: www.independent.co.uk

M (A Child): Live streaming from the Court of Appeal on Thursday 4th March – Should a journalist be able to see the court documents behind a flawed decision that a child needed adoption? – Transparency Project

‘This is a short blog to introduce the people and issues, and explain the lead up, ahead of the live-streamed appeal in M (A Child) tomorrow. It aims to give non lawyers a bit of orientation and some links when tuning in to the court of appeal proceedings.’

Full Story

Transparency Project, 3rd March 2021

Source: www.transparencyproject.org.uk

Climate change “could transform legal profession” – Legal Futures

‘Helping clients cope with the repercussions of climate change could transform the legal profession, a Law Society report has predicted, as lawyers focus on “proactive risk management advice”, knowledge of numerous legal frameworks and “out-of-the-box thinking”.’

Full Story

Legal Futures, 25th February 2021

Source: www.legalfutures.co.uk

James Bevan: ‘10-year prison sentences for breaching COVID-19 entry requirements into the United Kingdom’? Governmental Decree is undermining the Rule of Law – UK Constitutional Law Association

‘The Secretary of State for Health, Matt Hancock, announced in Parliament on Tuesday 9th February that those returning from ‘red list’ countries who fail to disclose that fact could receive a 10-year prison sentence following conviction (see The Telegraph).’

Full Story

UK Constitutional Law Association, 24th February 2021

Source: ukconstitutionallaw.org

Case Comment: R (on the application of KBR, Inc) v Director of the Serious Fraud Office – UKSC Blog

In this post, Omar Qureshi, Eoin O’Shea, Amy Wilkinson and Karishma Gadhia, who all work at CMS and have a special interest in corporate crime matters, comment on the decision handed down by the UK Supreme Court earlier this month in the matter R (on the application of KBR, Inc) v Director of the Serious Fraud Office [2021] UKSC 2, which concerned whether the Director of the Serious Fraud Office can issue a notice pursuant to section 2(3) of the Criminal Justice 1987 requiring a foreigner to produce material held overseas.

Full Story

UKSC Blog, 24th February 2021

Source: ukscblog.com

Rape social media posts: How speaking out got twin sisters sued – BBC News

‘Two sisters say they’ve been silenced by the man they reported for sexual assault after he sued them for talking about what happened.’

Full Story

BBC News, 24th February 2021

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

‘Extraordinary’: court hears how claimant won case two years after his death – Law Society’s Gazette

‘AHigh Court judge has described as ‘utterly bizarre’ that a claim form was issued in a land ownership case on behalf of a claimant who had died almost 18 months previously.’

Full Story

Law Society's Gazette, 23rd February 2021

Source: www.lawgazette.co.uk

Ex-Labour staffer goes to court to try to identify leaker of antisemitism report – The Guardian

‘A former senior Labour staffer has taken the party to court in an attempt to force it to disclose the identity of the leaker of a report on antisemitism in the party that contained hundreds of private WhatsApp messages.’

Full Story

The Guardian, 22nd February 2021

Source: www.theguardian.com

Directors’ duties to disclose conflicts of interest: Fairford Water Ski Club v Cohoon & Craig Cohoon Watersports [2021] EWCA Civ 143 – Guildhall Chambers

‘On 9 February 2021, the Court of Appeal unanimously allowed Mr Cohoon and Craig Cohoon Watersports’ (“Watersports”) appeal against the decision of His Honour Judge Russen QC at first instance ([2020] EWHC 290 (Comm)).’

Full Story

Guildhall Chambers, 15th February 2021

Source: www.guildhallchambers.co.uk

Legal action begins against climate lawyer in Heathrow expansion row – The Independent

‘Court proceedings have been launched against a climate charity lawyer for leaking a decision to expand Heathrow Airport.’

Full Story

The Independent, 18th February 2021

Source: www.independent.co.uk

Criminal Law Update – Devon Chambers

Posted February 11th, 2021 in chambers articles, codes of practice, criminal procedure, disclosure, news by sally

‘The new 2020 versions of the Disclosure Code of Practice issued under the Criminal Procedure and Investigations Act (CPIA) 1996 (“the Code”) and Attorney General’s Guidelines on Disclosure (AGG) are probably not lockdown reading of choice for anybody. Nevertheless, they contain new procedures and a sea change in some respects and it will be essential for criminal practitioners to get to grips with the new requirements. There is a new emphasis on a thoughtful, rather than a prescriptive approach. Disclosure is to be integral to an investigation and not an adjunct.’

Full Story

Devon Chambers, February 2021

Source: www.devonchambers.co.uk

Case Preview: R (on the application of A) v Secretary of State for the Home Department – UKSC Blog

‘On 10 February, the Supreme Court will hear the appeal in R (A) v SSHD. The case concerns the legality of guidance issued under the Multi Agency Public Protection Arrangements (“MAPPA”).’

Full Story

UKSC Blog, 8th February 2021

Source: ukscblog.com

Documents on CEO’s personal phone should be disclosed, court rules – OUT-LAW.com

‘The terms of a contractual agreement between a CEO and his company mean material held on a personal mobile phone should be disclosed in litigation the company is involved in, the High Court of England has ruled.’

Full Story

OUT-LAW.com, 8th February 2021

Source: www.pinsentmasons.com

Domestic Abuse Bill: calls for data ‘firewall’ to protect migrant women – Law Society’s Gazette

‘The government has been urged to remove ‘blind spots’ in the Domestic Abuse Bill that could deter migrant women from reporting domestic abuse to the police for fear of being deported or enable perpetrators to control their victims.’

Full Story

Law Society's Gazette, 3rd February 2021

Source: www.lawgazette.co.uk