Mum jailed for arson on Ruabon home while children inside – BBC News
‘A mother-of-two who claimed voices in her head told her to set fire to her home with her children inside has been jailed.’
BBC News, 18th March 2015
Source: www.bbc.co.uk
Category: news
Changes announced to UK’s venture capital rules – Technology Law Update
‘Although there is precious little detail until the Finance Bill is published next week you may be interested in the following new Budget announcements concerning SEIS/EIS/VCT investments – I haven’t included previously announced measures.’
Technology Law Update, 19th March 2015
Source: www.technology-law-blog.co.uk
Single dad adopts surrogate baby born to his mother – Park Square Barristers
‘The single father in the recent case B v C & Others (Surrogacy: Adoption) [2015] EWFC 17 (Fam) successfully obtained an adoption order which was the only means open to him to secure his legal relationship with his surrogate son. Alison Hunt of Park Square Barristers represented the father in this unique case in the Family Court before Mrs Justice Theis. The judgment opens the way for other single would-be parents to proceed in the same way, but it also highlights the very real pitfalls and uncertainty which await them in this difficult process. It raises questions about whether parental orders should be available to single applicants as they are for couples.’
Park Square Barristers, 9th March 2015
Source: www.parksquarebarristers.co.uk
Missing Persons – Tanfield Chambers
‘After bringing the first claim of its kind in the High Court in 2015, Gwyn Evans discusses how the Act will bring some relief to grieving families.’
Tanfield Chambers, 20th February 2015
Source: www.tanfieldchambers.co.uk
Family Law Week’s Budget Briefing 2015 – Family Law Week
‘Jan Ellis, chartered accountant, of Ellis Foster LLP, a firm which specialises in advising family lawyers on tax-related family law issues, explains the budget changes of most relevance to family lawyers.’
Family Law Week, 18th March 2015
Source: www.familylawweek.co.uk
Court bundle sizes in care proceedings must be controlled – Park Square Barristers
‘In the recent case of Re L (A Child) [2015] EWFC 1, the president of the Family Division, Sir James Munby, reminded practitioners of the importance of following Practice Direction 27A when preparing court bundles in care proceedings, and keeping their size under control. ‘
Park Square Barristers, 12th March 2015
Source: www.parksquarebarristers.co.uk
Managing Cuts: Lawful decision-making, PSED and consultation – Thirty Nine Essex Street
‘In recent years there have been an increased number of challenges to local authority decisions made under the pressure of increasingly tight and potentially unmanageable
financial constraints. Many of these legal challenges have centred on alleged failures to comply with the Public Sector Equality Duty (PSED) together with alleged deficiencies in the consultation process. As financial pressures continue, and further cuts are required, this paper discusses the lessons to be learned from the cases so far, and offers practical tips for lawful decision-making in these difficult times.’
Full story (PDF)
Thirty Nine Essex Street, February 2015
Source: www.39essex.com
Vince v Wyatt; the value of a clean break order – Zenith Chambers
‘The Supreme Court has told us that Ms Wyatt must explain and justify her reasons for delaying in making a claim, and that it is important to address the effect of delay on the Respondent. Little has been said of the responsibility of any spouse seeking to exclude future claims against themselves to seek a clean break order.’
Zenith Chambers, 13th March 2015
Source: www.zenithchambers.co.uk
Online divorce… a practical choice – Legal Services Board
‘The Legal Services Board and the Legal Services Consumer Panel today publish jointly commissioned research comparing the consumer experience of online divorce with more traditional services. This is the first time that this aspect of online legal services has been looked at.’
Legal Services Board, 19th March 2015
Source: www.legalservicesboard.org.uk
Advising witnesses on the defence case: what are the issues? – Halsbury’s Law Exchange
‘The CPS have recently been running a consultation entitled “Speaking to Witnesses at Court”. The consultation period ended on Monday 16th March, and we await their response.’
Halsbury’s Law Exchange, 18th March 2015
Source: www.halsburyslawexchange.co.uk
Credit hire rates. Are they basically the same? – Park Square Barristers
‘A recent decision from the Court of Appeal has caused a sea-change in the ways in which courts will assess the likely cost of basic hire rates (BHRs) when assessing the recoverable damages to be paid under a credit-hire agreement. From now on, the courts will be entitled to calculate BHRs with reference to the lowest reasonable rate charged by a local (to the claimant) main hire company.’
Park Square Barristers, 6th March 2015
Source: www.parksquarebarristers.co.uk
Are Covert Recordings Admissible? – No. 5 Chambers
‘Charles Crow reviews recent decisions in relation to covert recordings by employees and the implications for Tribunals and employers.’
No. 5 Chambers, 12th January 2015
Source: www.no5.com
Enforcing family financial orders – Law Commission
‘Every year, thousands of separating couples apply to the courts for financial orders, either because they cannot agree or to turn an agreement into an order so as to make it enforceable. The courts can order a person to make financial provision for a former spouse or civil partner. Sometimes the courts also make orders for the benefit of the children. The orders are made to help make sure that the needs of both partners and their children are met and, where possible, to maintain their living standards.’
Law Commission, 11th March 2015
Source: www.lawcommission.justice.gov.uk
Sexual Offences Prevention Orders – One Inner Temple Lane
‘The purpose of Sexual Offences Prevention Orders (SOPOs) are to protect the public or any particular members of the public where necessary from serious sexual harm from a defendant. This article is intended to consider the key features of the current regime pursuant to the Sexual Offences Act 2003 (SOA) and the limitations that the SOPO in its current form suffers from.’
One Inner Temple Lane, 27th February 2015
Source: www.1itl.com
Varying a Foreign Maintenance Order Post the Maintenance Regulation – Family Law Week
‘James Roberts, barrister of 1 King’s Bench Walk, and Catherine Silwal , Senior Solicitor with KJ Smith Solicitors, analyse the law relating to variation of foreign maintenance orders and the effect of the EU Maintenance Regulation (Council Regulation (EC) No 4/2009).’
Family Law Week, 17th March 2015
Source: www.familylawweek.co.uk
Tribunal confirms no penalty for implementing tax avoidance scheme – RPC Tax Take
‘In the recent case of Herefordshire Property Company Ltd v HMRC1, the First-tier Tribunal (Tax Chamber) (“FTT”) allowed the taxpayer’s appeal against the imposition by HMRC of a penalty, which was based on an allegation of negligent implementation of a tax planning scheme by the taxpayer.’
RPC Tax Take, 18th March 2015
Source: www.rpc.co.uk
‘How not to embark upon, and pursue, a care case’ – Park Square Barristers
‘In the 2014 case Re R (A Child) [2014] EWCA Civ 1625, the president considered the post-Re B & -Re B-S landscape, stressing that ‘Re B-S was not intended to change and has not changed the law’ [para. 44] on adoption. The president’s judgment clarified that, in the wake of Re B and Re B-S, it is not right to say that an application for a placement order now has to ‘surmount a much higher hurdle’ or to exclaim that ‘adoption is over’.’
Full story
Park Square Barristers, 25th February 2015
Source: www.parksquarebarristers.co.uk
Unlocking the Funds for Justice – Pro Bono Costs – Family Law Week
‘Cyrus Larizadeh, barrister of 4 Paper Buildings and Senate House Chambers, explains the costs issues which arise where an advocate, acting pro bono, represents a successful party in care and/or placement proceedings.’
Family Law Week, 16th March 2015
Source: www.familylawweek.co.uk
Council loses Supreme Court appeal in rights of way battle with trail riders – Local Government Lawyer
‘The Supreme Court has rejected – by a 3-2 majority – a county council’s appeal over whether an application by motorcyclists to upgrade rights of way complied with relevant statutory requirements.’
Local Government Lawyer, 18th March 2015
Source: www.localgovernmentlawyer.co.uk
