Middle East conflict: force majeure and commercial implications in English law – OUT-LAW.com

Posted March 30th, 2026 in news by Simon

‘The ongoing hostilities in the Middle East, set against a volatile global energy market and the resulting disruption to oil production, transport and pricing, have brought into sharp focus a number of complex legal issues relevant to English law governed by international supply contracts.’

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OUT-LAW.com, 27th March 2026

Source: www.pinsentmasons.com

Charedi challenge to the scope of the Universal Infant Free School Meals Scheme: CKS – Law & Religion UK

Posted March 30th, 2026 in news by Simon

‘n R (CKS & Ors) v Secretary of State for Education [2026] EWHC 741, the claimants were three children (their parents acting as litigation friends) who were members of the Charedi Jewish community and attended private Charedi schools. They challenged the Department of Education’s Universal Infant Free School Meals policy (“UIFSM”), which requires state-funded schools to provide a free school meal to all state-funded school pupils in Reception and Key Stage 1 without any means test – but does not apply to pupils in private schools..

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Law & Religion UK, 30th March 2026

Source: lawandreligionuk.com

Reviews by firm’s ex-employee with ‘axe to grind’ are defamatory, High Court finds – Law Society Gazette

Posted March 30th, 2026 in news by Simon

‘Reviews by a probate executive accusing her former employer, a solicitor, of being dishonest and incompetent have been found to be defamatory at common law.’

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Law Society Gazette, 30th March 2026

Source: www.lawgazette.co.uk

In depth: Mesh scandal victims seek compensation after solicitor struck off – Law Society Gazette

Posted March 30th, 2026 in news by Simon

‘Rarely does the Solicitors Disciplinary Tribunal offer an outspoken moral judgement on the behaviour of a respondent. Its description of Darren Hanison, former sole practitioner with Sussex firm Fortitude Law, as “deplorable” was therefore an indication of how appalled the panel had been with the misconduct laid out before it.’

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Law Society Gazette, 30th March 2026

Source: www.lawgazette.co.uk

Community sentences not fit for purpose without reform, magistrates say – Law Society Gazette

Posted March 30th, 2026 in news by Simon

‘The government’s planned criminal justice reforms will fail without proper investment in community sentences, the Magistrates’ Association has said.’

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Law Society Gazette, 30th March 2026

Source: www.lawgazette.co.uk

In depth: Gaming tokens ‘theft’ case stakes out new legal terrain – Law Society Gazette

Posted March 30th, 2026 in news by Simon

‘A landmark case on the alleged theft of gold gaming tokens stakes out more legal ground on the unfamiliar terrain of digital assets.’

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Law society Gazette, 29th March 2026

Source: www.lawgazette.co.uk

The Reluctant Pension Credit Member – Financial Remedies Journal

Posted March 30th, 2026 in news by Simon

‘In the case of AP v TP [2025] EWFC 190 (B) a financial remedy order was made by consent, following an FDR, which included a pension sharing order in W’s favour. Difficulties began when W failed to provide the necessary information to permit the pension share to be implemented.’

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Financial Remedies Journal, 30th March 2026

Source: financialremediesjournal.com

Siblings face huge ‘fence wars’ court bill after chopping down trees in neighbours’ garden – The Independent

Posted March 30th, 2026 in news by Simon

‘Three siblings could be facing a “ruinous” £250,000-plus “fence wars” court bill after invading their neighbours’ “immaculate” garden and hacking down their 33-foot Leylandii trees.’

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The Independent, 30th March 2026

Source: www.independent.co.uk

Farmer sentenced over illegal waste dump – BBC News

Posted March 30th, 2026 in news by Simon

‘A North Yorkshire farmer who allowed thousands of tonnes of waste to be dumped on his land has been sentenced to 12 months in prison, suspended for two years’

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BBC News, 30th March 2026

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

CourtWatch report is “timely intervention” says Bar Chair – Bar Council

Posted March 27th, 2026 in news by Simon

‘The CourtWatch London project provides a valuable insight into the functioning of the magistrates’ courts, the project has gathered data and feedback from 2,300 hearings at the 15 magistrates’ courts across London between February and July last year. The Courtwatchers recorded 500 hearings (23% of all hearings) where the defendant was not represented by a lawyer.’

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Bar Council, 26th March 2026

Source: www.barcouncil.org.uk

Study calls for training and appraisals to improve treatment of defendants – Law Society Gazette

Posted March 27th, 2026 in news by Simon

‘More training for judges and magistrates and appraisals for judicial holders will help to improve defendants’ experience in courts, Transform Justice has said.’

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Law Society Gazette, 27th March 2026

Source: www.lawgazette.co.uk

Crown court backlog hits new record – Law Society Gazette

Posted March 27th, 2026 in news by Simon

‘The Crown court backlog has reached a new record, according to data released today by the Ministry of Justice. The government said the latest figures show why jury trials need to be curbed as part of its reform package: the criminal bar said they prove the opposite.’

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Law Society Gazette, 26th March 2026

Source: www.lawgazette.co.uk

Re A and Z: Service Out; MPS; LSPO [2026] EWFC 64 – Financial Remedies Journal

Posted March 27th, 2026 in news by Simon

‘McKendrick J. Interim hearing addressing an application to set aside a previous order permitting alternative service of the divorce petition out of jurisdiction by email in the US, alongside MPS and LSPO applications.’

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Financial Remedies Journal, 26th March 2026

Source: financialremediesjournal.com

Housing Particulars: Mind The Gap – Financial Remedies Journal

Posted March 27th, 2026 in news by Simon

‘What can the court do when there’s a significant gap between the bottom of the applicant’s range and the top of the respondent’s range? Can the court take up the invitation made by counsel to “conduct its own research on Rightmove if it wishes”?’

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Financial Remedies Journal, 26th March 2026

Source: financialremediesjournal.com

A New Suspended Reality – Significant Reform to Suspended Sentence Orders – 3PB

Posted March 27th, 2026 in news by sally

‘The Sentencing Act 2026 (the Act) received Royal Assent on 22 January 2026. As such, various provisions making changes to sentencing law will be introduced. This article summarises the changes that will be most important for criminal practitioners.’

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3PB, 23rd March 2026

Source: www.3pb.co.uk

When should you know what you don’t in fact know? – 4 New Square

Posted March 27th, 2026 in news by sally

‘Kay v Martineau Johnson [2026] EWCA Civ 224 is the latest in a long line of cases concerning section 14A of the Limitation Act 1980 (as amended). The fact that there is such a long line means that the law in this area is largely settled. However, as Clare Dixon KC and Hugh Evans explore in this article, this case shows that it is not entirely settled, and its application is often contestable.’

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4 New Square, 10th March 2026

Source: www.4newsquare.com

Orgreave inquiry formally under way into policing during miners’ strike – The Guardian

Posted March 27th, 2026 in news by sally

‘The government has announced the formal start of the promised official inquiry into the violent policing at the Orgreave coking plant during the 1984-85 miners’ strike and the discredited prosecutions of 95 men that followed.’

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The Guardian, 26th March 2026

Source: www.theguardian.com

BAILII: Recent Decisions

Posted March 26th, 2026 in law reports by michael

Court of Appeal (Civil Division)

Titchfield Festival Theatre Ltd v Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government & Anor (Rev1) [2026] EWCA Civ 368 (26 March 2026)

Manchester City Council v Tabbasam [2026] EWCA Civ 361 (26 March 2026)

Court of Appeal (Criminal Division)

Hadsh, R. v [2026] EWCA Crim 365 (05 March 2026)

Howden, R. v [2026] EWCA Crim 366 (26 February 2026)

Coffee, R. v [2026] EWCA Crim 367 (26 February 2026)

High Court (Administrative Court)

Barbican Quarter Organisation Ltd, R (On the Application Of) v City of London Corporation [2026] EWHC 687 (Admin) (26 March 2026)

SH, R (On the Application Of) v Secretary of State for the Home Department [2026] EWHC 729 (Admin) (26 March 2026)

High Court (Chancery Division)

Car-Wizard Ltd v Vixen Surface Treatments Ltd [2026] EWHC 685 (Ch) (26 March 2026)

High Court (King’s Bench Division)

Nirmal v Birmingham Women and Children’s Hospital NHS Foundation Trust [2026] EWHC 723 (KB) (25 March 2026)

Ashley v Revenue and Customs [2026] EWHC 725 (KB) (24 March 2026)

Source: www.bailii.org

The application of Paul – strike out of a secondary victim claim in clinical negligence case – Quarterly Medical Law Review

Posted March 26th, 2026 in news by Simon

‘This case appears to be the first reported determination of a claim seeking damages as a Secondary Victim following the judgment of the Supreme Court in Paul & Anor v Royal Wolverhampton NHS Trust [2024] UKSC 1 (11 January 2024). The claim was struck out by HHJ Claire Evans sitting as a Deputy Judge of the High Court in Manchester on 17th March 2026 following a hearing on 5th March 2026.’

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Quarterly Medical Law Review, 24th March 2026

Source: 1corqmlr.com

LSB leads sector-wide effort to strengthen legal ethics – Legal Services Board

Posted March 26th, 2026 in news by Simon

‘Regulators will need to put “professional ethical duties” at the heart of how lawyers are expected to behave. The LSB has confirmed that where duties conflict, lawyers must prioritise their duties to the court and the rule of law over their duty to their client. This follows the oversight regulator’s consultation last year, in which stakeholders called for greater certainty about the hierarchy of these duties.’

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Legal Services Board, 26th March 2026

Source: legalservicesboard.org.uk