‘Welcome to the Roundup, where we correct, clarify and comment on media reports of family law, explain and comment on published family court judgments, and highlight other transparency news.’
The Transparency Project, 4th August 2026
Source: transparencyproject.org.uk
‘FH v MH (PH12J: Parallel Criminal Proceedings) [2026] EWFC 195 (B) highlights an interesting question of the relationship between the assessment of risk within the Family Court and ongoing criminal proceedings. The Court applied the Resolution model, which was considered in the case of J (A Child) (Resolutions Model) [2021] EWFC 58 – (although this case relates to public law proceedings), finding that the maintaining of a guilty plea within criminal proceedings need not be fatal to an assessment of risk within the Family Courts. The emphasis, instead, is upon whether the party has demonstrated meaningful behavioural change and whether the identifiable risks can be safely managed going forward.’
3PB, 29th July 2026
Source: www.3pb.co.uk
‘This case concerns the enforceability of a “training fee clawback scheme” in the defendant’s, Mr Watts’, contract of employment. It raises issues of significance about restraint of trade in the context of contracts of employment.’
3PB, 27th July 2026
Source: www.3pb.co.uk
‘This case serves as a useful reminder that a protected act for the purposes of s27(2) is not limited to allegations of discrimination and matters akin; it includes various other matters. The particular provision of relevance to this claim was s27(2)(c), i.e. “doing any other thing for the purposes of or in connection with this Act”.’
3PB, 27th July 2026
Source: www.3pb.co.uk
‘Nicholas Grundy KC, Michael Mullin and Joe Mahon (who represented the Respondent London borough) and Millie Polimac (who represented the 2nd and 3rd Interveners), all of Five Paper, explain the practical effect of the Supreme Court decision in Bano.’
Local Government Lawyer, 5th August 2026
Source: www.localgovernmentlawyer.co.uk
‘A company and its directors have been convicted and sentenced for operating three unregistered children’s homes in Kent, in what the Government has described as a “welcome start” to its crackdown on illegal children’s homes.’
Local Government Lawyer, 5th August 2026
Source: www.localgovernmentlawyer.co.uk
‘Knife-related homicides have dropped to their lowest level in 35 years as the government’s surrender drive takes more than 15,000 knives off Britain’s streets.’
home Office, 5th August 2026
Source: www.gov.uk
‘In R (Al Hashimi) v Secretary of State for the Home Department [2026] EWCA Civ 943, the Court of Appeal held that a woman living in the United Arab Emirates could not invoke Articles 8 and 14 of the European Convention on Human Rights (“ECHR”) to challenge sex discrimination in UK nationality legislation. The preliminary obstacle was Article 1: she was not within the United Kingdom’s jurisdiction for Convention purposes (§1).’
UK Human Rights Blog, 5th August 2026
Source: ukhumanrightsblog.com
‘In response to a consultation on the design of the FPA process, the Department of Health and Social Care confirmed that an independent adult social care negotiating body will be established to negotiate legally binding minimum standards on pay, terms and conditions across the sector. The body will also have the ability to negotiate wider workforce issues, including training, career progression, people policies and employee benefits.’
OUT-LAW.com, 5th August 2026
Source: www.pinsentmasons.com
‘The consultation, launched on 14 July, signals the government’s intention to strengthen protections against pay discrimination in the UK and address long-standing concerns that the current system is overly complex, costly and slow.’
OUT-LAW.com, 5th August 2026
Source: www.pinsentmasons.com
‘Legal AI innovators facing regulatory uncertainties have been invited to test their ideas in a government-funded “sandbox”. The AI growth lab, announced in June, has invited bids from law firms, law tech companies and AI developers.’
Law Society Gazette, 5th August 2026
Source: www.lawgazette.co.uk
‘More than 1,100 people, including survivors of torture and trafficking, have been convicted of illegally arriving in the UK since 2022, according to freedom of information data.’
The Guardian, 5th August 2026
Source: www.theguardian.com
‘A man who previously faked being in an induced coma to get out of a court date has been jailed for acting as a company director while disqualified.’
BBC News, 5th August 2026
Source: www.bbc.co.uk
‘The Met police officer who shot Chris Kaba will not face misconduct proceedings, the Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) has said.’
BBC News, 5th August 2026
Source: www.bbc.co.uk
‘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.’
BBC News, 5th August 2026
Source: www.bbc.co.uk
‘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.’
Wilberforce Chambers, 3rd August 2026
Source: www.wilberforce.co.uk
‘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.’
Local Government Lawyer, 4th August 2026
Source: www.localgovernmentlawyer.co.uk
‘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.’
Law & Religion UK, 5th August 2026
Source: lawandreligionuk.com
‘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.’
Wilberforce Chambers, 3rd August 2026
Source: www.wilberforce.co.uk
‘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.’
Local Government Lawyer, 3rd August 2026
Source: www.localgovernmentlawyer.co.uk
© Inner Temple Library 2026