‘An advert by high street retailer Marks & Spencer has been banned for featuring an “irresponsible” image of a model who appeared “unhealthily thin”.’

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The Guardian, 23rd July 2025

Source: www.theguardian.com

‘A High Court ruling casting uncertainty over the immunity of advocates for what they say and do in court could have a “chilling effect”, both on the administration of justice and on “fearless advocacy”, the Bar Council has warned.’

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Legal Futures, 24th July 2025

Source: www.legalfutures.co.uk

‘Leicester City Council has lost a racial discrimination case in the Court of Appeal (Civil Division), having previously failed at both an Employment Tribunal (ET) and the Employment Appeals Tribunal (EAT).’

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Local Government Lawyer, 24th July 2025

Source: www.localgovernmentlawyer.co.uk

‘On Tuesday last week it emerged that a mind-boggling data breach by the UK government – and the momentous policy decisions taken in its wake – had been kept a secret from all but a handful of people across the three institutions of the state for nearly two years.’

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UK Constitutional Law Association, 23rd July 2025

Source: ukconstitutionallaw.org

‘Two former City traders who were at the centre of one of the biggest scandals of the financial crisis have had their convictions quashed following a 10-year fight.’

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BBC News, 23rd July 2025

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

‘Corrupt foreign officials, including police officers who profit from people smuggling, face being banned from the UK and having their assets frozen.’

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The Guardian, 21st July 2025

Source: www.theguardian.com

‘Adamning new report has said the legal profession is failing on multiple levels to address diversity issues and could even be in breach of lawful duties to protect minorities.’

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Law Society's Gazette, 21st July 2025

Source: www.lawgazette.co.uk

‘A man has been found guilty of assisting a foreign intelligence service after handing over personal details of the then defence secretary, Grant Shapps, to two undercover officers he believed to be Russian agents.’

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The Guardian, 22nd July 2025

Source: www.theguardian.com

‘Northumbria Police’s Chief Constable made an irrational decision in 2024 when she allowed police officers to take part in a parade by Northern Pride and misunderstood the Public Sector Equality Duty, the High Court has found.’

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Local Government Lawyer, 22nd July 2025

Source: www.localgovernmentlawyer.co.uk

‘A man has been jailed for life with a minimum term of 28 years after he was convicted of murdering his estranged wife, stabbing her a number of times as she pushed their baby in a pram.’

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The Guardian, 22nd July 2025

Source: www.theguardian.com

‘A paralegal has been jailed for 20 months after stealing £11,500 from clients whose affairs her firm was managing under lasting powers of attorney (LPAs).’

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Legal Futures, 23rd July 2025

Source: www.legalfutures.co.uk

‘The Court of Protection has allowed the co-founder of the Open Justice Court of Protection Project to receive the position statements made in a case concerning a living will, but Mr Justice Poole said in future any disputes about provision of a position statement to an observer must be brought to the attention of the judge and resolved during the hearing.’

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Local Government Lawyer, 22nd July 2025

Source: www.localgovernmentlawyer.co.uk

‘Hewlett-Packard (HP) is set to recoup more than £700m ($944m) from the estate of the late Mike Lynch and his former business partner, Sushovan Hussain, a London High Court judge ruled on Tuesday.’

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The Independent, 22nd July 2025

Source: www.independent.co.uk

‘A man who was driving without a licence and inhaled nitrous oxide before and after killing an 81-year-old cyclist at a pedestrian crossing has been detained for more than 11 years.’

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The Guardian, 21st July 2025

Source: www.theguardian.com

‘The Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO) Annual Report for 2024/25 released last week sadly provides evidence of a severe and serious weakening of information rights regulation compared to the strong enforcement which is (and remains) promised especially under the (UK) General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR). Despite even last year’s Report generally revealing formal enforcement such as fines, criminal prosecutions and criminal cautions which were in the single digits only, the Report now omits any reference to UK GDPR enforcement notices (as there were none at all during 2024/25) and states that there were just 2 UK GDPR fines during the year (which compares to >200 in both Germany and Spain) and that even the number of outcomes resulting in reprimands fell from 31 to just 9 (a 70% reduction). Coming on top of concerns over the lack of enforcement action in response to many egregious data breaches including one which put up to 100,000 Afghans at risk of grave harm and possibly even caused death, the Report also reveals that the number of reported data breaches which even resulted in a GDPR investigation (let alone enforcement action) dropped from a mere 6% to just 3%. At the same time, the number of data protection complaints which received no response during the expected 90 day timeframe sky-rocketed from just 15.2% in 2023/24 to 70% in 2024/25 (a 360% increase). As the review of the UK’s EU data adequacy status commences later this year, questions must be asked about these worrying trends and what (if anything) can be done to address them.’

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UK Constitutional Law Association, 22nd July 2025

Source: ukconstitutionallaw.org

‘In January, in Thatchers v Aldi [2025] EWCA Civ 5, the Court of Appeal found that Aldi Stores Ltd’s (Aldi) Taurus Cloudy Lemon Cider infringed Thatchers Cider Company Ltd’s (Thatchers) registered trade mark. That decision marked a turning point for brand owners seeking to challenge supermarket lookalikes. With the Supreme Court’s endorsement, the legal position has been further cemented in favour of brand protection.’

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Law Society's Gazette, 18th July 2025

Source: www.lawgazette.co.uk

‘On 15th July 2025, the UK Government (UKG) published its response to its review and public consultation on Parts 1 and 2 of the United Kingdom Internal Market Act 2020 (UKIMA). The Response confirms the UKG’s commitment to (re)position the Common Frameworks (sector-specific intergovernmental agreements coordinating policy in devolved areas previously governed by EU law) ahead of the UKIMA to manage future policy divergence in devolved areas affecting intra-UK trade. It also details six reforms that the UKG will bring forward in coming months. After setting out some brief background to the Review, the first part of this post explores the UKG’s reform proposals, with a focus on changes to the existing UKIMA exclusion process. Thereafter, this post reflects on the UKG’s broader aspiration to manage intra-UK trade under devolution primarily by consensus through the Common Frameworks, rather than by imposition under the UKIMA.’

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UK Constitutional Law Association, 21st July 2025

Source: ukconstitutionallaw.org