Supreme Court boosts consumer firms eyeing business energy claims – Legal Futures
‘Consumers claims law firms will be sizing up the business energy claims market after the Supreme Court allowed a key appeal on undisclosed commissions by consent.’
Legal Futures, 26th January 2026
Source: www.legalfutures.co.uk
Police officers to be told they must get work licence or face dismissal – BBC News
‘Every police officer in England and Wales will be required to hold a licence to be able to continue working, the Home Office has said.’
BBC News, 23rd January 2026
Source: www.bbc.co.uk
CAT rejects relaxation of conflict of interest rule for panel members – Legal Futures
‘The Competition Appeal Tribunal (CAT) has decided against relaxing its conflict of interest rule for panel members and chairs.’
Legal Futures, 26th January 2026
Source: www.legalfutures.co.uk
Mixed use leases, dwellings and service charges – Nearly Legal
‘A Court of Appeal decision on the application of ‘dwelling’ in section 38 Landlord and Tenant Act 1985, and so whether sections 18 to 27A, the service charge protection provisions applied.’
Nearly Legal, 25th January 2026
Source: nearlylegal.co.uk
Understanding the Government’s consultation on earned settlement – Kingsley Napley Immigration Law Blog
‘The UK Government’s Earned Settlement consultation proposes a fundamental shift in how migrants achieve Indefinite Leave to Remain (ILR). Instead of a time-based system, settlement would be earned through measurable contributions and integration. For the tech sector – one of the UK’s fastest-growing industries – these changes could have far-reaching consequences. If someone has ILR it means that there is no time limit on their ability to stay in the UK. They can work and study without restrictions and they are eligible for welfare benefits. For some people ILR is a step towards applying for British citizenship, usually one year after being granted ILR.’
Kingsley Napley Immigration Law Blog, 22nd January 2026
Source: www.kingsleynapley.co.uk
Resolution of inscription on headstone – Law & Religion UK
‘The prescriptive nature of Diocesan Churchyard Regulations provides parochial clergy with delegated authority to allow memorials which fall within the certain specified criteria, although they are perfectly at liberty, should they wish, to decline to permit a memorial even though it complies with the Regulations. The case Re St. Cuthbert Kentmere [2025] ECC Car 12 demonstrates the progress of a petition to erect a headstone in the churchyard of St Cuthbert’s, Kentmere, from the initially unsuccessful approaches – informal and via the DAC – to discussions with the Chancellor, and final approval of the agreed format[*].’
Law & Religion UK, 23rd January 2026
Source: lawandreligionuk.com
UK Supreme Court clarifies JCT contractors’ termination rights – OUT-LAW.com
‘The Supreme Court has ruled that a contractor does not have the immediate right to terminate a construction contract simply because a client has made two late payments.’
OUT-LAW.com, 22nd January 2026
Source: www.pinsentmasons.com
Campaigner launches £1.5bn legal action in UK against Apple over wallet’s ‘hidden fees’ – The Guardian
‘The financial campaigner James Daley has launched a £1.5bn class action lawsuit against Apple over its mobile phone wallet, claiming the US tech company blocked competition and charged hidden fees that ultimately harmed 50 million UK consumers.’
The Guardian, 23rd January 2026
Source: www.theguardian.com
BAILII: Recent Decisions
Court of Appeal (Civil Division)
Secretary of State for Work & Pensions v NJ [2026] EWCA Civ 23 (22 January 2026)
Allen v The Secretary of State for Work And Pensions [2026] EWCA Civ 19 (21 January 2026)
Court of Appeal (Criminal Division)
Haydon v Rex [2026] EWCA Crim 12 (21 January 2026)
High Court (Administrative Court)
High Court (Chancery Division)
Corallo & Ors v Pinelli & Ors [2026] EWHC 90 (Ch) (21 January 2026)
High Court (Commercial Court)
Actinon Pte Ltd v Char Biocarbon Inc [2026] EWHC 94 (Comm) (21 January 2026)
MS “V1” GmbH & Co KG & Anor v SY Co Ltd [2026] EWHC 52 (Comm) (20 January 2026)
ADS Securities Llc v Windhorst [2026] EWHC 81 (Comm) (16 January 2026)
High Court (King’s Bench Division)
Prudence v Gloucestershire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust [2026] EWHC 96 (KB) (22 January 2026)
Sinkala v Secretary of State for the Home Department [2026] EWHC 59 (KB) (22 January 2026)
Clearing the path to disavow the EOG principle – Administrative Court Blog
‘The Divisional Court (Males LJ, Bourne J) has dismissed a claim seeking to enforce unincorporated treaty obligations in strident terms. The judgment makes new points paving the way for the eventual disavowal by an appellate court (likely the UKSC) of the EOG principle, the principle that an executive commitment in policy to comply with unincorporated treaties provides a domestic foothold for a court to adjudicate compliance. The case is R (The American Federation of Musicians of the United States and Canada and others) v Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology [2026] EWHC 91 (Admin).’
Administrative Court Blog, 21st January 2026
Paid Holidays and Parity of Contractual Terms for Agency Workers: Lutz v Ryanair DAC in the Court of Appeal – Industrial Law Journal
‘Under conditions of managerial adaptability, employers structure their commercial affairs in such a way that they are able to access a ready and available pool of workers when demand is high, while retaining the flexibility to offload excess labour when business pressures tail off.1 And the relevant legal arrangements are usually put into effect in a manner that both insulates the hirer of services from exposure to external liability and saves labour, tax, social security, pension and other commercial costs. They are formalized via a plethora of elaborate commercial contracts, sometimes involving legal entities that are inter-positioned between the individual service providers and the business itself. This might be seen as “having one’s cake and eating it”, but it is undoubtedly a distinctive marker of the contemporary labour market currently serving both product and services markets.’
Industrial Law Journal, 9th January 2026
Source: academic.oup.com
Coroner calls for more guidance on doulas after baby’s death in Hampshire – The Guardian
‘A coroner has warned that more babies could die without greater clarity and guidance over the role of home birthing assistants, after the death of a baby girl raised concerns about a doula delaying access to hospital treatment.’
The Guardian, 21st January 2026
Source: www.theguardian.com
Access to and the delivery of mental health services in women’s prisons in England: a thematic analysis of unannounced prison inspection reports – Journal of Forensic Psychiatry and Psychology
‘There is a disproportionately high prevalence of mental health problems among women in prison. While research has acknowledged the heightened vulnerabilities of this population, there remains a paucity of studies examining the provision and quality of mental health services across the women’s prison estate. This study employs Thematic Analysis of the most recent unannounced inspection reports from each women’s prison in England to explore the quality of mental health care and factors influencing its effective delivery. The analysis identified key themes highlighting the critical role of the prison regime, physical environment, and service provision in supporting women with mental health needs. Although examples of good practice were evident – including effective communication between clinical teams, staff skilled in identifying vulnerable individuals, and access to a range of psychological interventions – significant inconsistencies persist. Barriers such as long waiting times for therapy, chronic staff shortages, and high levels of mental illness contribute to the overwhelming demand placed on prison mental health services, resulting in unmet need. To address these challenges, increased investment in prison-based mental health services is essential. Moreover, greater funding for community-based mental health support is needed to alleviate systemic pressures and ensure continuity of care for women both during and after imprisonment.’
Journal of Forensic Psychiatry and Psychology, 14th January 2026
Source: www.tandfonline.com
Teacher loses £60k fight with Go Ape over shattered leg on slide ‘for kids’ – The Independent
‘A primary school teacher has lost her £60,000 compensation fight with Go Ape after shattering her leg on a slide “aimed at children” as young as three.’
The Independent, 22nd January 2026
Source: www.independent.co.uk
Judge-only trials in England and Wales will not wipe out crown court backlog, report says – The Guardian
‘David Lammy’s plans to introduce judge-only criminal trials in England and Wales will save less than 2% of time in crown courts, the Institute for Government (IFG) has said.’
The Guardian, 22nd January 2026
Source: www.theguardian.com
Mother of 10 who kept vulnerable woman as ‘house slave’ for 25 years found guilty – The Independent
‘A teenage girl was forced to work as a “house slave” for over 25 years, a court has heard.’
The Independent, 21st January 2026
Source: www.independent.co.uk
Judicial diversity strategy focuses on Black and disabled judges – Legal Futures
‘The new judicial diversity strategy has prioritised increasing the number of Black judges and ensuring reasonable adjustments are provided for disabled judges as areas of “acute need requiring urgent attention”.’
Legal Futures, 22nd January 2026
Source: www.legalfutures.co.uk
Questioning the scope of jury equity – Administrative Court Blog
‘The Court of Appeal has criticised Saini J’s high-profile judgment on the scope of jury equity in HM Solicitor General v Warner [2024] EWHC 918 (KB). The case is Webster v The King [2026] EWCA Crim 9.’
Administrative Court Blog, 21st January 2026

