Speech by the Chancellor of the High Court: The new Business and Property Division – Courts and Tribunals Judiciary

Posted September 17th, 2026 in news by Simon

‘I wanted to speak to the Association about the new Division, for what I hope are fairly obvious reasons. The changes relate directly to your work and your clients will be just as important users of the Rolls Building in future as they are today. I mention the Rolls Building because this event is happening here in London. But I will say something about the Business and Property Courts outside London as well.’

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Courts and Tribunals Judiciary, 16th September 2026

Source: www.judiciary.uk

Court of Appeal criticises “flawed” approach adopted by judge when making special guardianship order – Local Government Lawyer

Posted September 17th, 2026 in news by Simon

‘The Court of Appeal has allowed an appeal against a special guardianship order, ruling that the judge should have determined whether the threshold criteria were established, and should have considered whether the order was “necessary and proportionate”.’

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Local Government Lawyer, 16th September 2026

Source: www.localgovernmentlawyer.co.uk

High Court quashes planning permission for 132-flat scheme over misleading officers’ report – Local Government Lawyer

Posted September 17th, 2026 in news by Simon

‘The London Borough of Hounslow’s planning committee proceeded on a false premise because an officers’ report was misleading, the High Court has found.’

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Local Government Lawyer, 17th September 2026

Source: www.localgovernmentlawyer.co.uk

Court of Appeal finds council was required to carry out mental capacity assessment ahead of completing Care Act assessment – Local Government Lawyer

Posted September 17th, 2026 in news by Simon

‘The Court of Appeal (Civil Division) has allowed an appeal against the dismissal of an application for judicial review of London Borough of Haringey’s assessment of a young man’s social care needs under the Care Act 2014.’

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Local Government Lawyer, 17th September 2026

Source: www.localgovernmentlawyer.co.uk

Talking Pensions Ep27: Mark Kowalik – Pensions Barrister

Posted September 17th, 2026 in news by Simon

We are back from our summer break with a new episode of the Talking Pensions podcast, in which Paul talks to Mark Kowalik about his long career as a pensions lawyer at CMS. They discuss the evolution of pensions law and regulation since the 1980s and look forward to future developments in the field.’

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Pensions Barrister, 17th September 2026

Source: www.pensionsbarrister.com

Upper Tribunal upholds lifetime ban for financial misconduct – OUT-LAW.com

Posted September 17th, 2026 in news by Simon

A recent ruling by the Upper Tribunal affirms the UK financial services industry’s zero-tolerance approach to non-financial misconduct, an expert has said.’

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OUT-LAW.com, 16th September 2026

Source: www.pinsentmasons.com

In depth: What the Gazette learned shadowing magistrates at frontline courts – Law Society Gazette

Posted September 17th, 2026 in news by Simon

‘Magistrates’ courts already deal with 92% of all cases before the criminal courts. The increase in sentencing powers proposed in the Courts and Tribunals Bill will push that figure even higher. With this in mind, the Gazette wanted to find out more about the magistracy and, in a first, according to the Magistrates’ Association, we were invited to shadow two magistrates over several days and interview the presiding justices.’

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Local Government Lawyer, 15th September 2026

Source: www.lawgazette.co.uk

Judicial delays lead to sanctions – Law Society Gazette

Posted September 17th, 2026 in news by Simon

‘More judges have been sanctioned over delays to their issue of judgments and other decisions.’

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Law Society Gazette, 16th September 2026

Source: www.lawgazette.co.uk

Courts cannot be left behind in AI rush, says minister – Legal Futures

Posted September 17th, 2026 in news by Simon

‘The government cannot allow the emergence of a two-tier system where large City law firms are at the cutting edge of AI use while the courts are “stuck in the analogue age”, justice minister Sarah Sackman said yesterday.’

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Legal Futures, 16th September 2026

Source: www.legalfutures.co.uk

JC v MC (Refusal of Relief from Sanctions) [2026] EWFC 145 – Financial Remedies Journal

Posted September 17th, 2026 in news by Simon

‘MacDonald J. Refusal of relief from sanctions for deliberately failing to comply with length of evidence in H’s application to vary the maintenance he had agreed to pay W. H’s s 37 MCA injunction application also failed.’

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Financial Remedies Journal, 15th September 2026

Source: financialremediesjournal.com

A pupil’s guide to AI at the Bar – counsel

Posted September 17th, 2026 in news by Simon

‘Henry Fingerhut outlines what the Bar Standards Board AI guidance means for early career barristers.’

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Counsel, 14th September 2026

Source: www.counselmagazine.co.uk

Succession planning – Counsel

Posted September 17th, 2026 in news by Simon

‘The Sir Mota Singh Moot has returned, offering an impressive glimpse of a more representative Bar. If this is what the future looks like, why does the present still lag so far behind? ask Baldip Singh and Prof Jo Delahunty KC.’

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Counsel, 14th September 2026

Source: www.counselmagazine.co.uk

Police officer who fostered toxic culture and requested explicit video is jailed – Crown Prosecution Service

Posted September 17th, 2026 in news by Simon

‘A former police officer has been jailed for misconduct in public office after he requested a sexually explicit video from a female suspect’s phone.’

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Crown Prosecution Service, 16th September 2026

Source: www.cps.gov.uk

Police worker sentenced after illegal use of data – BBC News

Posted September 17th, 2026 in news by Simon

‘A former member of police staff has been sentenced after she used a police computer system to carry out illegal searches on several people, including herself.’

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BBC News, 16th September 2026

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Army officers cleared over handling of sexual assault – BBC News

Posted September 17th, 2026 in news by Simon

‘Two serving Army officers have been cleared of failing to properly deal with abuse allegations made by a teenage soldier who took her own life.’

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BBC News, 16th September 2026

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

British bosses to be forced to meet with employees who request flexible working – The Guardian

Posted September 17th, 2026 in news by Simon

‘Company bosses will have to sit down with workers who request flexible working and justify their reasons for any refusals under new rights announced by Louise Haigh on Tuesday.’

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The Guardian, 15th September 2026

Source: www.theguardian.com

Army officer found not guilty of failing to properly deal with Jaysley Beck abuse claims – The Independent

Posted September 16th, 2026 in news by michael

‘Army colonel Samantha Shepherd has been found not guilty of failing to properly deal with abuse allegations made by Gunner Jaysley Beck before her death.’

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The Independent, 16th September 2026

Source: www.independent.co.uk

AGNI – the most comprehensive first instance ‘run’ at it so far – Local Government Lawyer

Posted September 16th, 2026 in news by michael

‘Alex Ruck Keene KC (Hon) analyses an important Court of Protection ruling in the aftermath of the Supreme Court‘s judgment in AGNI.’

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Local Government Lawyer, 16th September 2026

Source: www.localgovernmentlawyer.co.uk

Prevent referrals and discrimination under the Equality Act – Local Government Lawyer

Posted September 16th, 2026 in news by michael

‘Following a rare Equality Act challenge against a Prevent referral, a school has been found to have unlawfully discriminated against a Muslim pupil referred to the local authority under the Government’s counter-terrorism scheme.’

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Local Government Lawyer, 16th September 2026

Source: www.localgovernmentlawyer.co.uk

Why the law in England is ill-equipped for the age of agentic AI – OUT-LAW.com

Posted September 16th, 2026 in news by michael

‘There are potential gaps in English private law that could leave businesses unable to recover losses in circumstances where AI agents cause them harm by acting completely unprompted and seemingly beyond constraints imposed by those who developed or deployed them. The courts will need to take an expansive view of “intentionality” to provide affected companies with redress.’

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OUT-LAW.com, 14th September 2026

Source: www.pinsentmasons.com