LawtechUK: Regulatory risks of AI “inhibiting law firm adoption” – Legal Futures

‘Hesitation about adopting artificial intelligence (AI) by law firms nervous of the risks presented by a regulatory grey area is causing a bottleneck that needs to be cleared, according to LawtechUK.’

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Legal Futures, 18th January 2023

Source: www.legalfutures.co.uk

Law firm fined record £20,000 for “reckless” AML breaches – Legal Futures

‘The Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA) has fined an Oxfordshire law firm £20,000 after finding it “reckless” in failing to comply with the anti-money laundering (AML) requirements.’

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Legal Futures, 18th January 2023

Source: www.legalfutures.co.uk

Jailed accountant who defrauded NHS ordered to pay back nearly £240k – Crown Prosecution Service

‘An accountant who was jailed for defrauding the NHS, companies and individuals, has been ordered to pay back nearly £240,000 and faces an additional 20 months in prison if he fails to pay.’

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Crown Prosecution Service, 17th January 2023

Source: www.cps.gov.uk

Don’t meddle with law officers, thinktank warns government – Law Society’s Gazette

‘Ministers should resist calls to end the political role of government law officers, a centre-right thinktank argues today in the run-up to publication of an influential parliamentary report. In a paper “Between Law and Politics: The Future of the Law Officers in England & Wales”, published by Policy Exchange, Dr Conor Casey of the University of Liverpool School of Law argues that the current configuration of the attorney general and solicitor general as law officers with legal and political dimensions works well. Moving to an alternative model of, for example, law officers without any political involvement is not worth it and has potential serious downsides, Casey states.’

Full paper

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Law Society's Gazette, 17th January 2023

Source: www.lawgazette.co.uk

TonyBet fined £442,750 and warned on failure to have fair and transparent terms – The Independent

‘TonyBet has been fined 442,750 and warned about its failure to have fair and transparent terms, and for failing to follow social responsibility and anti-money laundering rules, the Gambling Commission said.’

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The Independent, 18th January 2023

Source: www.independent.co.uk

Manchester City footballer Benjamin Mendy cleared of six rape charges – The Guardian

Posted January 18th, 2023 in news, rape, sexual offences, sport by sally

‘French player will face another trial after no verdicts reached on one charge of rape and one of attempted rape.’

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The Guardian, 13th January 2023

Source: www.theguardian.com

Sudden unexplained death in childhood debated in Parliament – BBC News

Posted January 18th, 2023 in bereavement, children, families, news, parliament by sally

‘The issue of children dying unexpectedly and without any known cause has been debated in Parliament for the first time.’

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BBC News, 17th January 2023

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Church of England bishops refuse to back gay marriage – BBC News

‘Church of England bishops have refused to back a change in teaching to allow priests to marry same-sex couples, sources have told BBC News. The Church of England’s bishops met on Tuesday to finalise their recommendations after five years of consultation and debate on the Church’s position on sexuality.
Their proposal will be debated at the Church’s equivalent of a parliament – the General Synod – next month.’

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BBC News, 18th January 2023

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Legal experts call for new UK offence of inducing sexual activity by deception – The Guardian

Posted January 18th, 2023 in consent, criminal justice, deceit, news, sexual offences by sally

‘A new criminal offence of intentionally deceiving a person into engaging in sexual activity should be created to address confusion in the law around consent, legal experts and lawyers have said.’

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The Guardian, 18th January 2023

Source: www.theguardian.com

BAILII: Recent Decisions

Posted January 17th, 2023 in law reports by michael

Court of Appeal (Civil Division)

Blacker, R (On the Application Of) v Chelmsford City Council (Rev1) [2023] EWCA Civ 25 (17 January 2023)

Anan Kasei Co. Ltd & Anor v Neo Chemicals & Oxides (Europe) Ltd & Ors [2023] EWCA Civ 11 (17 January 2023)

Excalibur & Keswick Groundworks Ltd v McDonald [2023] EWCA Civ 18 (17 January 2023)

T & Ors v Secretary of State for Work & Pensions [2023] EWCA Civ 24 (17 January 2023)

C, Re (Surrogacy: Consent) (Rev1) [2023] EWCA Civ 16 (16 January 2023)

Wilson & Anor v McNamara [2023] EWCA Civ 20 (16 January 2023)

Court of Appeal (Criminal Division)

City of York Council, R (On the Application Of) v AUH & Ors [2023] EWCA Crim 6 (16 January 2023)

Gold, R. v [2023] EWCA Crim 22 (16 January 2023)

Jefferies, R. v [2023] EWCA Crim 21 (16 January 2023)

Holder, R. v [2023] EWCA Crim 5 (13 January 2023)

High Court (Administrative Court)

AA & Ors, R (On the Application Of) v National Health Service Commissioning Board (Operating Under the Name of NHS England) [2023] EWHC 43 (Admin) (16 January 2023)

High Court (Patents Court)

Nokia Technologies OY & Anor v Oneplus Limited Technology (Shenzhen) Co., Ltd & Ors [2023] EWHC 23 (Pat) (16 January 2023)

High Court (King’s Bench Division)

Piepenbrock v London School of Economics and Political Science & Ors [2023] EWHC 52 (KB) (17 January 2023)

Bitar v Banque Libano-Francaise SAL [2023] EWHC 17 (KB) (16 January 2023)

Hetherington v Blythe [2023] EWHC 41 (KB) (16 January 2023)

Source: www.bailii.org

Statutory Instruments – legislation.gov.uk

Posted January 17th, 2023 in legislation by michael

SI 2023/38 – The International Tax Enforcement (Disclosable Arrangements) Regulations 2023

SI 2023/36 – The Income Tax (Indexation of Blind Person’s Allowance and Married Couple’s Allowance) Order 2023

SI 2023/30 – The Carriers’ Liability (Clandestine Entrants) (Level of Penalty: Code of Practice) Order 2023

SI 2023/29 – The Carriers’ Liability (Amendment) Regulations 2023

SI 2023/26 – The Wychavon (Electoral Changes) Order 2023

SI 2023/23 – The Malvern Hills (Electoral Changes) Order 2023

SI 2023/22 – The Brighton & Hove (Electoral Changes) Order 2023

SI 2023/21 – The Public Lending Right Scheme 1982 (Commencement of Variation) Order 2023

SI 2023/17 – The Official Controls (Northern Ireland) Regulations 2023

SI 2023/12 – The Immigration (Restrictions on Employment etc.) (Amendment) (EU Exit) Regulations 2023

Source: www.legislation.gov.uk

Tech bosses face jail if children not kept safe online after UK parliament deal – The Guardian

Posted January 17th, 2023 in amendments, bills, children, internet, news, prosecutions by sally

‘Tech executives whose platforms persistently fail to protect children from online harm will face criminal charges after ministers reached a deal with Conservative backbenchers.’

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The Guardian, 16th January 2023

Source: www.theguardian.com

Ministry of Justice to launch call for evidence on open justice – Legal Futures

Posted January 17th, 2023 in courts, electronic filing, media, Ministry of Justice, news, remote hearings, tribunals by sally

‘The Ministry of Justice (MoJ) is to launch a “wide-ranging” call for evidence on open justice, access to information and transparency across the courts and tribunals.’

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Legal Futures, 17th January 2023

Source: www.legalfutures.co.uk

Rishi Sunak blocks Scotland’s gender recognition legislation – The Guardian

Posted January 17th, 2023 in bills, birth certificates, devolution, news, Scotland, transgender persons by sally

‘Rishi Sunak’s government has blocked legislation passed by the Scottish parliament that would make Scotland the first part of the UK to introduce a self-identification system for people who want to change gender.’

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The Guardian, 16th January 2023

Source: www.theguardian.com

Will disputes – Mills & Reeve

Posted January 17th, 2023 in executors, news, powers of attorney, probate, wills by sally

‘It’s becoming more and more common to see disputes over inheritance. In 2019, 188 cases of challenging Wills reached the High Court, a dramatic increase of 47% from cases in 2018. In fact, it is now estimated that 3 in 4 people are likely to encounter such a dispute within their lifetimes. It is more important than ever therefore to be aware of the grounds upon which a Will may be challenged.’

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Mills & Reeve, 16th January 2023

Source: www.mills-reeve.com

London borough successfully defends judicial review claim as judge considers interaction between local authority obligations under Care Act 2014 and Housing Act 1996 – Local Government Lawyer

Posted January 17th, 2023 in community care, disabled persons, housing, judicial review, local government, news by sally

‘A High Court judge has dismissed a judicial review claim over the London Borough of Ealing’s decision to withdraw its funding of the claimant’s temporary bed and breakfast accommodation. The application concerned the interaction between the local authority’s obligations under the Care Act 2014 and its obligations under the Housing Act 1996.’

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Local Government Lawyer, 16th January 2023

Source: www.localgovernmentlawyer.co.uk

Human Rights in the UK Are in Crisis According to New Report – Each Other

Posted January 17th, 2023 in human rights, news, reports, United Nations by sally

‘Over 70 organisations from across civil society in England and Wales have provided evidence for a new report to the UN on the UK’s human rights record. The report concludes that rights in the UK – including everyday rights such as to food, housing, social security, work, trade unions, health and education – are in crisis.’

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Each Other, 17th January 2023

Source: eachother.org.uk

Man who shared explosives recipe guilty of terror offences – BBC News

Posted January 17th, 2023 in explosives, news, terrorism, video recordings by sally

‘A man who shared bomb-making instructions in a far-right group chat has been convicted of terror offences.’

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BBC News, 16th January 2023

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Judges allow partial appeal against Rwanda asylum seeker ruling – The Guardian

Posted January 17th, 2023 in appeals, asylum, deportation, news, Rwanda by sally

‘Two judges who ruled that the Home Office’s plan to send asylum seekers to Rwanda to have their cases processed was lawful have granted permission for parts of their decision to be challenged at the court of appeal.’

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The Guardian, 16th January 2023

Source: www.theguardian.com

What Is Sentencing And How Does It Work? – Each Other

Posted January 17th, 2023 in appeals, joint enterprise, news, select committees, sentencing by sally

‘The House of Commons Justice Committee has launched an inquiry into the public’s opinion and understanding of sentencing. The Justice Committee will examine their understanding of the current approach to sentencing in England and Wales. It has made us ask the question: what does sentencing mean for our rights?’

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Each Other, 13th January 2023

Source: eachother.org.uk