COVID-19 Dispute Resolution – Applying the Principle of Frustration to Cancellations Caused by the Virus – 4 New Square

Posted April 16th, 2020 in chambers articles, contracts, coronavirus, news by sally

‘What happens where a contracting party no longer wishes to perform their obligations because of COVID-19? This is likely to be a major source of disputes in the near future as contracts become uneconomic or difficult to perform because of the virus and the unprecedented disruption it is causing. What are the rights of the parties where an event has been cancelled because of COVID-19 but one of the parties has paid a deposit and the other has spent money preparing for it?’

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4 New Square, 2nd April 2020

Source: www.4newsquare.com

General Medical Council and Professional Standards Authority for Health and Social Care v Dr Zafar – Old Square Chambers

Posted April 16th, 2020 in appeals, chambers articles, contempt of court, doctors, expert witnesses, news, professional conduct by sally

‘The High Court has held that a Court of Appeal judgment in a Civil Contempt sentence appeal involving the Respondent although it did not increase the Respondent doctor’s sentence for contempt but led to a finding of undue lenience should have been put before the Medical Practitioners Tribunal (MPT) when considering the sanction for the admitted Contempt. This is despite the General Medical Council (GMC), which exercised its right of appeal under section 40A of the Medical Act 1983 to bring the case before the High Court, having agreed not to put the judgment before the MPT prior to and during the MPT proceedings.’

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Old Square Chambers, 8th April 2020

Source: www.oldsquare.co.uk

Holding and Management (Solitaire) Limited v Leslie Stafford Miller [2019] UKUT 402 (LC) – Tanfield Chambers

Posted April 16th, 2020 in chambers articles, county courts, covenants, housing, jurisdiction, landlord & tenant, leases, news, tribunals by sally

‘The FTT improperly purported to determine matters which it had no statutory authority to do so on the basis of the generality of the County Court’s order transferring the matter to it.’

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Tanfield Chambers, 2nd April 2020

Source: www.tanfieldchambers.co.uk

Out-of-Hours Appointments: A Temporary Fix to a Permanent Problem? – Radcliffe Chambers

Posted April 16th, 2020 in chambers articles, electronic filing, insolvency, news, practice directions by sally

‘The past year has seen repeated attempts by the courts to solve the conundrum of electronic working and how it interfaces with outof-court appointments of administrators. Six decisions, all conflicting in whole or in part, none likely to result in an appeal, did little to ease the uncertainty surrounding the validity of notices efiled outside court hours by CE-File. There was no substantive attempt at resolution on the part of the Companies Court or the Insolvency Rules Committee; the Chancellor issued guidance to the effect that notices filed out-of-hours would be referred to a designated High Court Judge.’

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Radcliffe Chambers, 8th April 2020

Source: radcliffechambers.com

High Court: Experts owe clients “fiduciary duty of loyalty” – Litigation Futures

Posted April 16th, 2020 in confidentiality, expert witnesses, fiduciary duty, news, privilege by sally

‘Expert witnesses owe a fiduciary obligation of loyalty to their client and it is not satisfied simply by putting in place measures to preserve confidentiality and privilege, the High Court has ruled.’

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Litigation Futures, 16th April 2020

Source: www.litigationfutures.com

Domestic abuse killings ‘more than double’ amid Covid-19 lockdown – The Guardian

Posted April 16th, 2020 in charities, children, coronavirus, domestic violence, families, homicide, news, statistics by sally

‘At least 16 suspected domestic abuse killings in the UK have been identified by campaigners since the Covid-19 lockdown restrictions were imposed, far higher than the average rate for the time of year, it has emerged.’

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The Guardian, 15th April 2020

Source: www.theguardian.com

“Give Me Just A Little More Time” – Littleton Chambers

Posted April 16th, 2020 in chambers articles, contracts, coronavirus, news, sport by sally

‘Bianca Balmelli and Nicholas Siddall QC analyse the legal issues arising from the differing responses of sporting events to the Covid-19 pandemic.’

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Littleton Chambers, 7th April 2020

Source: www.littletonchambers.com

Recent Statutory Instruments – legislation.gov.uk

Posted April 16th, 2020 in legislation by sally

The Statutory Sick Pay (General) (Coronavirus Amendment) (No. 3) Regulations 2020

The Land Registration (Amendment) Rules 2020

Source: www.legislation.gov.uk

BAILII: Recent Decisions

Posted April 16th, 2020 in law reports by sally

High Court (Family Division)

I and L (Children), Re [2020] EWHC 893 (Fam) (15 April 2020)

Source: www.bailii.org

The Mayor and Commonality and Citizens of the City of London v Various Leaseholders of Great Arthur House [2019] UKUT 341 (LC) – Tanfield Chambers

Posted April 15th, 2020 in appeals, chambers articles, housing, interpretation, landlord & tenant, leases, London, news, repairs, tribunals by sally

‘The Upper Tribunal determined, by reference to the interpretation of the specific terms of various “Right to Buy” leases, whether the leaseholders were liable to contribute to the landlord’s costs of repairing structural defects.’

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Tanfield Chambers, 2nd April 2020

Source: www.tanfieldchambers.co.uk

Sports Clubs in the Lurch? Considering the Eligibility of Players for Government’s Furlough Scheme – Littleton Chambers

Posted April 15th, 2020 in chambers articles, coronavirus, employment, news, remuneration by sally

‘The restrictive measures imposed in an attempt to curb the spread of Covid-19 are creating an unprecedented and often existential challenge for businesses across the globe, and sports clubs are no exception. Indeed, given the suspension of almost all sports, sports clubs are amongst the worst hit, as most sources of revenue dry up including (depending on where they fall within the pyramid) ticket sales, subs, and revenue gained from hiring out venues for concerts, conferences and other private events.’

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Littleton Chambers, 6th April 2020

Source: www.littletonchambers.com

Amendments to statements of case and the rule in Henderson v Henderson – Wilberforce Chambers

Posted April 15th, 2020 in case management, chambers articles, civil procedure rules, news, res judicata by sally

‘Is it possible to resist an application to amend on the grounds that the new case could and should have been advanced earlier in the same proceedings?’

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Wilberforce Chambers, 14th April 2020

Source: www.wilberforce.co.uk

Prosecuting Domestic Violence – New Law Journal

Posted April 15th, 2020 in coercive & controlling behaviour, coronavirus, criminal justice, Crown Prosecution Service, domestic violence, mental health, news, prosecutions, public interest, victims by sally

‘On Saturday 15 February, Caroline Flack’s tragic death became widespread news across the country. Having been charged with common assault of her boyfriend, Lewis Burton, she pleaded not guilty on 23 December last year and was due to face trial on 4 March. On the same day that she took her life, a statement from Ms Flack’s management strongly criticised the Crown Prosecution Servce (CPS) for pursuing the case, citing its knowledge of her vulnerability and the lack of support from the alleged victim.’

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New Law Journal, 26th March 2020

Source: www.newlawjournal.co.uk

Implications of Coronavirus for UK Spouse Visas – Richmond Chambers

Posted April 15th, 2020 in chambers articles, coronavirus, families, immigration, marriage, married persons, news, visas by sally

‘The Coronavirus and Covid-19 disease are causing a devastating effect across the world. The situation can be especially stressful for individuals who are separated from family members or for those who are worried that their partner may be separated from them if an application to remain in the UK is refused. In this post we will look at some of the key issues that individuals applying to remain with spouses and partners might need to consider in the coming months.’

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Richmond Chamber, 7th April 2020

Source: immigrationbarrister.co.uk

Police Powers Under the 2020 Coronavirus Act by Stephen Wood QC – Broadway House Chambers

Posted April 15th, 2020 in chambers articles, coronavirus, emergency powers, enforcement, news, police, statutory interpretation by sally

‘A woman is arrested for loitering at a railway station and ‘prosecuted’ under the Coronavirus Act 2020. The prosecution do not oppose her appeal against conviction to the Crown Court on the basis that she had been prosecuted for an offence not known in law.’

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Broadway House Chambers, 14th April 2020

Source: broadwayhouse.co.uk

Virtual Hearings from a Practitioner’s Perspective – 23 Essex Street

Posted April 15th, 2020 in appeals, barristers, chambers articles, coronavirus, courts, live link evidence, news by sally

‘Arnold Ayoo shares some observations and tips following his first online hearing, a High Court Appeal before Freedman J.’

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23 Essex Street, 14th April 2020

Source: www.23es.com

The Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme – An Overview – Doughty Street Chambers

Posted April 15th, 2020 in chambers articles, coronavirus, employment, HM Revenue & Customs, news, remuneration by sally

‘On 20th March 2020, HMRC announced that it would set up the Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme. The purpose of the scheme is to prevent mass redundancies and unemployment in the wake of the global coronavirus pandemic. On 26th March 2020, HMRC published further guidance on the scheme. The guidance was then updated on 4th April 2020 and again on 9th April 2020.’

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Doughty Street Chambers, 14th April 2020

Source: insights.doughtystreet.co.uk

COVID-19, the self-employed and the Bar – a wobbly scheme? – Doughty Street Chambers

Posted April 15th, 2020 in barristers, chambers articles, coronavirus, employment, HM Revenue & Customs, legal profession, news, remuneration by sally

‘The Government approved a package of measures targeting the self-employed in response to the Covid-19 crisis. But are these measures sufficient and will they adequately safeguard members of the self-employed Bar, lower paid employees and workers in the gig economy and see sets of Chambers through the crisis? Doughty Street’s employment law team is available to advise on any employment issues that may arise in relation to employment status, sham self-employment agreements and the government’s financial assistance packages in the wake of Covid-19.’

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Doughty Street Chambers, 10th April 2020

Source: insights.doughtystreet.co.uk

Coronavirus (COVID-19)—Changes to the Care Act 2014 – 39 Essex Chambers

Posted April 15th, 2020 in chambers articles, coronavirus, duty of care, easements, hospitals, local government, mental health, news by sally

‘Siân Davies, barrister at 39 Essex Chambers, discusses the Care Act easements, provided for under the Coronavirus Act 2020. She examines the guidance for local authorities on when it is appropriate to use the Care Act easements, emphasises the information that should be given to those being assessed and debates what changes to safeguarding policies may occur during the relaxation period. She also analyses the relationship between the Care Act easements guidance and the Hospital Discharge Service Requirements.’

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39 Essex Chambers, 7th April 2020

Source: www.39essex.com

Chris Packham to seek permission to appeal dismissal of HS2 challenge – Local Government Lawyer

Posted April 15th, 2020 in appeals, climate change, environmental protection, government departments, judicial review, news, planning, transport by sally

‘Broadcaster Chris Packham is to seek permission to appeal a Divisional Court ruling that dismissed his review challenge over the Transport Secretary’s decision to continue with the HS2 rail project.’

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Local Government Lawyer, 14th April 2020

Source: www.localgovernmentlawyer.co.uk