Bar regulator targets RASSO advocacy – Law Society Gazette
‘The bar regulator has set up a cross-sector taskforce to develop new advocacy standards for barristers involved in rape and serious sexual offences (RASSO) cases amid concern about courtroom conduct and wellbeing.’
Law Society Gazette, 6th May 2026
Source: www.lawgazette.co.uk
Potanina v Potanin (Case Management) [2026] EWFC 80 – Financial Remedies Journal
‘MacDonald J. Case management decision on the wife’s claim under Part III Matrimonial and Family Proceedings Act 1984 after a Russian divorce. The court refused the husband’s applications to adjourn proceedings and for a split hearing, lifted a stay on disclosure, and set directions toward a final hearing.’
Financial Remedies Journal, 5th May 2026
Source: financialremediesjournal.com
High Court bid fails to stop Brockwell festivals – BBC News
‘A campaigner has lost a High Court bid to try to prevent several music festivals going ahead at Brockwell Park, in Lambeth, south London.’
BBC News, 7th May 2026
Source: www.bbc.co.uk
Lawyer who represented Hamas in court says UK police falsely listed him as member of group – The Guardian
‘A lawyer who filed Hamas’s challenge to proscription in the UK was recorded by police as being a member of the banned group, “equating him with his client”.’
The Guardian, 5th May 2026
Source: www.theguardian.com
BAILII: Recent Decisions
Court of Appeal (Civil Division)
Municipio de Mariana & Ors v BHP Group (UK) Ltd & Anor [2026] EWCA Civ 502 (06 May 2026)
High Court (Administrative Court)
Oxford Aviation Services Ltd & Ors v Civil Aviation Authority [2026] EWHC 1044 (Admin) (06 May 2026)
High Court (Chancery Division)
Shan v Registrar of Companies & Ors [2026] EWHC 1058 (Ch) (06 May 2026)
Waldorf Production UK PLC, In the Matter Of [2026] EWHC 1014 (Ch) (05 May 2026)
Devani v Sharon (Re Hermes House NW2 Ltd) [2026] EWHC 1037 (Ch) (05 May 2026)
Mittal v Barclays Bank PLC & Ors [2026] EWHC 1029 (Ch) (01 May 2026
High Court (Commercial Court)
Veranova Bidco LP v Johnson Matthey PLC & Ors (Rev2) [2026] EWH1021 (Comm) (01 May 2026)
OWH SE iL v RTI Ltd & Anor [2026] EWHC 1015 (Comm) (01 May 2026)
High Court (Family Division)
N’Djosse v Adeyeye [2026] EWHC 1033 (Fam) (01 May 2026)
FG, Re (A Child: Return Order to Lithuania) [2026] EWHC 1050 (Fam) (01 May 2026)
The Father v The Mother & Anor [2026] EWHC 1012 (Fam) (30 April 2026)
High Court (Patents Court)
AMI Industries, Inc v Martin-Baker Aircraft Company Ltd [2026] EWHC 1027 (Pat) (01 May 2026)
Samsung Electronics Co Ltd & Anor v ZTE Corporation & Ors [2026] EWHC 999 (Pat) (01 May 2026)
High Court (King’s Bench Division)
Fox v Steve Fellows Road Haulage Services Ltd & Ors [2026] EWHC 1054 (KB) (06 May 2026)
Thorne & Anor v Protheroe-Beynon [2026] EWHC 1042 (KB) (06 May 2026)
UK Insurance Ltd v Hassankhail [2026] EWHC 1020 (KB) (01 May 2026)
Devall & Ors v English Electric Company Ltd [2026] EWHC 1025 (KB) (01 May 2026)
Secake & Ors v Shared Services Connected Ltd (Rev1) [2026] EWHC 1022 (KB) (30 April 2026)
High Court (Technology and Construction Court)
Parkingeye Ltd v Velindre University NHS Trust & Anor [2026] EWHC 1019 (TCC) (01 May 2026)
Source: www.bailii.org
Administrative Court proceedings set to be broadcast from early 2027 – Local Government Lawyer
‘The Chair of the Transparency & Open Justice Board, Mr Justice Nicklin, has revealed that work is underway to extend broadcasting to Administrative Court hearings, as part of efforts to improve public access to information and court proceedings.’
Local Government Lawyer, 5th May 2026
Source: www.localgovernmentlawyer.co.uk
Bar Council faces discrimination claim over Black interns scheme – Legal Futures
‘The Bar Council is facing a discrimination claim over its 10,000 Black Interns programme by a white woman who says her application was rejected because of her race.’
Legal Futures, 5th May 2026
Source: www.legalfutures.co.uk
Antisocial behaviour vs permanence of Christian burial: Re Ormskirk Parish Churchyard – Law & Religion UK
In Re Ormskirk Parish Churchyard [2026] ECC Liv 2, Mr and Mrs Newsome petitioned for a faculty to exhume the remains of their son Adam, who had died of cancer in 2007, aged 19. Their intention was to rebury him in West Lancashire Cemetery. Their reasons for making the application were that the churchyard and the church grounds had become “a gathering place for youths indulging in antisocial behaviour, and perhaps more concerning drug abuse. There is anecdotal evidence that needles and other drug paraphernalia have been found lying in and around the gravestones in the churchyard.”
Law & Religion UK, 5th May 2026
Source: lawandreligionuk.com
The Curious Case of CA 1989 Schedule 1 paragraph 2(3) – Financial Remedies Journal
‘Paragraph 1 of CA 1989 Schedule 1 is headed ‘Orders for financial relief against parents’. Paragraph 2 is headed ‘Orders for financial relief for persons over eighteen’. As recent cases have demonstrated this structure causes complications.’
Financial Remedies Journal, 6th May 2026
Source: financialremediesjournal.com
Proxies carrying out antisemitic attacks in UK could face 14 years in prison – The Guardian
‘Offenders who commit antisemitic attacks backed by foreign powers such as Iran will face 14 years in prison under legislation to be included in the king’s speech next week.’
The Guardian, 6th May 2026
Source: www.theguardian.com
UK regulator launches review of ‘aggressive’ claims management firms amid compensation concerns – The Guardian
‘The City regulator has launched a review of claims management companies amid concerns that firms are misleading victims of financial scandals, such as car finance, about their compensation.’
The Guardian, 6th May 2026
Source: www.theguardian.com
Madeleine McCann prime suspect may not be extradited to UK to face trial due to Brexit, legal experts say – The Independent
‘According to Article 16 of the constitution, German citizens may not be extradited to any foreign countries that are outside of the [EU] bloc, despite other agreements that were put in place to prevent such occurrences.’
The Independent, 6th May 2026
Source: www.independent.co.uk
Hate crime prosecutions to be fast-tracked after antisemitic attacks – BBC News
‘Director of public prosecutions Stephen Parkinson has told prosecutors in England and Wales to bring charges more quickly, in order to clamp down on “daily incidents affecting the Jewish community, involving threats and abuse designed to cause fear and distress”.’
BBC News, 5th May 2026
Source: www.bbc.co.uk
Pilot analysis of Right to Equality’s ‘Family Court Blog’ – Journal of Social Welfare and Family Law
‘This project examined published reports from journalists and legal bloggers attending private family law proceedings in England and Wales. This pilot analysis explores issues in private and public family law proceedings with a focus on abuse allegations, use of ‘parental alienation,’ the role of journalists in enhancing transparency, and the involvement and impact of Children and Family Court Advisory and Support Services (Cafcass) or experts on contact outcomes. A mixed methods analysis was used to outline overarching themes (Thematic Analysis) positioned alongside percentages and common statistical tests on variable relationships. Initial findings align with existing literature in suggesting there is a theme of abusive fathers alleging ‘parental alienation’ against victim-mothers, a theme of pro-contact culture influencing contact maintenance with abusive parents, a theme of power held by Cafcass and experts in determining contact, and a serious pattern of administrative delays in cases concerning highly vulnerable individuals. Initial recommendations based on preliminary findings, aligned with existing literature, are to prohibit allegations of ‘alienation’ and ensure protections are in place for abuse survivors in the Family Court. A prior recommendation was to repeal the presumption of contact, but the government announced commitment to this change during the course of this work.’
Journal of Social Welfare and Family Law, 26th April 2026
Source: www.tandfonline.com
Simon Karsunke: What comes next? The way forward on UK House of Lords reform – UK Constitutional Law Association
‘On 18 March 2026 the House of Lords (Hereditary Peers) Bill became the House of Lords (Hereditary Peers) Act 2026. Following one final vote on the evening of the 10th of March 2026 in the House of Lords , and after having offered additional life peer appointments to Conservative peers, the Labour government has succeeded in finalising both what Tony Blair had started in 1999 with the House of Lords Act 1999, as well as one of its own manifesto pledges (at p. 108) by the end of the first Parliamentary session. With the remaining hereditary peers leaving the House of Lords, the House will be comprised solely of lifetime-appointments when peers and MPs gather for the State Opening of Parliament and the King’s Speech on 13 May.’
UK Constitutional Law Association, 5th May 2026
Source: ukconstitutionallaw.org
Modern slavery at record levels in UK and expected to worsen, report warns – The Guardian
‘Slavery in the UK is at record levels and is expected to worsen over the next decade, the government’s independent anti-slavery commissioner has warned.’
The Guardian, 5th May 2026
Source: www.theguardian.com
Rape case closure ‘a huge miscarriage of justice’ – BBC News
‘The family of a “vulnerable” teenager who took her own life after saying she had been raped at work has called the closure of the police investigation a “huge miscarriage of justice”.’
BBC News, 5th May 2026
Source: www.bbc.co.uk
Instructing experts, and how long does the leash have to be for the acid test to be satisfied? – Mental Capacity Law and Policy
‘Bristol City Council v CC & Ors [2026] EWCOP 19 (T3) is both an important and an interesting decision. It is important because Theis J set out a clear set of expectations instructing experts, and interesting because it is an example of what is now a rare beast, a contest as to whether circumstances gave rise to a deprivation of liberty. It also includes what is now an increasingly standard reminder that dividing care and residence decisions can frequently be artificial.’
Mental Capacity Law and Policy, 2nd May 2026

