Legal team had to take ‘forensic’ approach to ‘fabricated’ pregnancy case
Legal teams had to piece together photographs, medical records, bank statements and police evidence in a highly unusual High Court fact-finding hearing which became a “forensic investigation” to establish whether children at the centre of proceedings actually existed. A judgment on John v Jane [2026] EWHC 415 (Fam) was handed down in private on 26th […]
The Law Society warns agentic AI is outpacing justice system safeguards
The Law Society is calling for better oversight of agentic AI within the justice system, as new research warns it is developing faster than the rules needed to govern it. A foresight study published by the Law Society cautioned systems capable of acting on behalf of humans could enter the justice system before it has […]
SRA granted leapfrog appeal to Supreme Court in Carter-Ruck privilege case
An appeal made by the Solicitor’s Regulation Authority (SRA) against the Carter-Ruck ruling has been granted by the High Court and advanced to the Supreme Court. The landmark ruling made in September found the SRA does not have the power to requisition documents subject to legal professional privilege (LPP) under S.44B of the Solicitors Act […]
Courts to formally record offences involving domestic abuse for first time
Courts will formally record when an offence involves domestic abuse for the first time, the government has announced. The move, which came into effect from Monday 5th October, is the latest step in the government’s mission to halve violence against women and girls. Domestic abuse is already recognised as an “aggravating factor” in a wide […]
IFLG act for intended parents in the UK’s first Parental Order application involving China
Mr Justice MacDonald has handed down judgment in what is thought to be the first Parental Order case in relation to a surrogacy arrangement that took place in China in D & Anor v K (Illegal Chinese Commercial Surrogacy) [2026] EWFC 279. Natalie Sutherland of IFLG acted for the applicant Intended Parents, instructing Mr Andrew […]
Putting the child’s voice at the heart of public law
In this episode of the Today’s Family Lawyer Podcast, host David Opie sits down with Carolyne Willow, a long-standing children’s rights advocate, founder of the charity Article 39, and a newly qualified family and public law barrister. Reflecting on a career that began as a 22-year-old child protection social worker, Carolyne shares her journey of […]
What the latest hague convention judgment means for international children cases
The recent decision in F v M & Anor (Jurisdiction) [2026] EWFC 219 (B) provides an important reminder that habitual residence can change during proceedings, with potentially significant consequences for jurisdiction. Annie Wogel, senior associate at Mills & Reeve, who assisted on the case, considers what the judgment means for international children disputes. International children […]