Nowhere to hide for offenders in ‘largest crackdown on VAWG in British history’
The “full power of the state” will be deployed in the largest crackdown on violence perpetrated against women and girls in British history, as part of new strategy announced by the government today. All police forces in England and Wales will introduce specialist rape and sexual offence investigation teams to hunt down perpetrators, with specialist […]
Law Society ‘strongly opposes’ proposed switch to AML regulation under the FCA
The Law Society of England and Wales has outlined its opposition to proposals to create a Single Professional Services Supervisor (SPSS) for anti-money laundering which would sit under the supervision of the Financial Conduct Authority. In October Chancellor Rachel Reeves announced the creation of a SPSS as part of her ‘blitz’ on ‘pointless admin,’ citing […]
SRA targets COLPs and COFAs in latest client money crackdown
The Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA) will seek to separate the roles of Compliance Officer for Legal Practice (COLP) and Compliance Officer for Finance and Administration (COFA) from ‘individuals that can unilaterally determine or direct significant management decisions’ with law firms, in its latest crackdown. A newly launched client money consultation proposes to separate both roles […]
Family legal aid fees half of what they were 30 years ago, leading to ‘system overload’
Remuneration is too low to support a ‘sustainable legal aid practice’ and working conditions are ‘intolerable’ leading to system overload in the family legal aid system, according to a new report from the Bar Council. ‘System overload: a report into family legal aid’ highlights the ‘detrimental impact’ family legal aid is having on barristers, as […]
Court of Appeal finds child placement order was not proportionate
The Court of Appeal’s decision in N (A Child: Placement Order: Proportionality) is a reminder that when making child placement orders proportionality must be carefully considered, particularly where there is a complex cultural context. Lord Justice Peter Jackson handed down the judgment earlier this month after a November hearing, finding that “the plan for adoption was […]
Economic abuse figures ‘shocking but not surprising’, family lawyer says
Figures from the charity Surviving Economic Abuse, which reveal 27% of mothers in the UK with children under 18 have experience economic abuse in the last year, are “shocking but not surprising,” according to Stowe Family Law’s Zoe Robinson. The senior associate, who specialises in domestic abuse cases, says economic abuse is now one of […]
How economic abuse is evidenced and handled in the family courts
Research by the charity Surviving Economic Abuse suggests up to 3.9 million children in the UK are affected by a parent or carer exerting financial control over the family. Marilyn Bell, partner and joint head of family law at SA Law, explains how it’s evidenced and handled in the family courts and the impact on […]
Informal digital communications and the disposition of beneficial interests: Lessons from Lin v Gudmundsson
A High Court test case will decide whether WhatsApp messages are legally binding, after a husband sent a message to his wife telling her he would sign over his share of the family home as part of their divorce settlement. Hsiao Mei-Lin claims the WhatsApp from her ex-husband, Icelandic financier Audun Mar Gudmundsson, is legally […]
What 2026 could mean for the family justice system
As the dust settles on 2025’s landmark cases, coupled with parenting reforms, attention is shifting to what comes next for families navigating separation. From financial reform and the rise of nuptial agreements to growing concerns over access to justice, Emma Collins, partner and family lawyer at Weightmans, reveals that 2026 is shaping up to be […]