ECHR rejects appeal by trans man to be named as child’s father rather than mother
The European Court of Human Rights has rejected an application brought by a trans man who wanted to be recorded as his child’s legal father in the UK. The case challenged a legal framework that requires a birthing person to be recorded as the child’s mother on a British birth certificate even if they are […]
Could client account uncertainty be impacting the appetite of private equity to invest in law?
Proposals to reform client accounts and use the interest to capitalise the justice system, including legal aid, could be affecting the appetite of private equity to invest in law firms. An article in the Sunday Times newspaper suggested private equity companies could be deterred from investing in law firms until the outcome of the Ministry […]
PM Law COFA disqualified and ordered to pay £1350 costs
The Compliance Officer for Finance and Administration (COFA) at failed law firm PM Law has been disqualified from holding senior and compliance roles in law firms under section 99 of the Legal Services Act 2007, according to a Solicitors Regulation Authority decision published this week. Jonathon Bostock, a chartered accountant, was a non-lawyer manager and […]
‘Costs proposals must be evidence-based’ – Law Society
The Law Society of England and Wales has backed reforms of solicitors’ costs rules, but warns the proposals must be underpinned by “robust evidence”. The warning comes amid concerns that plans to expand the Legal Ombudsman’s (LeO) role risks overloading a system already under significant pressure. The Law Society has spoken to members to inform […]
Majority of parents don’t return to court after custody cases, report finds
Most parents who go to court to make arrangements for their children do not return to court, according to new research by the Nuffield Family Justice Observatory. The new report, Routes Through Court for Families in Private Law Proceedings, looked at cases involving nearly 200,000 adults in England and Wales. It found that a third […]
Resolution announces finalists for 2026 awards
Family justice body Resolution has announced the finalists for the Resolution Awards 2026. The Resolution Awards celebrate the individuals, teams and organisations who embody the values at the heart of Resolution’s Code of Practice. The awards, which will be held at London’s Church House on 24th September 2026 and hosted by Resolution member and broadcaster Joanna Gosling, […]
Is family law keeping up with tech abuse in divorce and child arrangements cases?
Technology-facilitated abuse is increasingly featuring in family law disputes, yet it remains absent from the statutory definition in the Domestic Abuse Act 2021. Trevona Hettiarachchi, partner in the divorce and family team at Stewarts, examines how tech abuse arises in divorce and child arrangements cases, why it can be difficult to evidence and whether the […]
Improving enablement of participation in court
The latest Today’s Family Lawyer Podcast turns its attention to a role that is often misunderstood and undervalued in the courts system; that of intermediaries. Intermediaries play an important role in supporting better, and more informed participation in courts. Rachel Cohen, director at the Intermediary Cooperative and a communication specialist, joins host David Opie to […]