LSB appoints Richard Orpin as new CEO
The Legal Services Board (LSB) has appointed Richard Orpin (pictured) as its new chief executive officer (CEO). Orpin joined the LSB in 2023 as director of regulation and policy and has almost 20 years of experience in regulation and government. He has been interim chief executive at the LSB since summer 2025. The appointment was […]
Research reveals £53k pension gap for divorced women
Divorced women typically have £53,160 less in pension savings than divorced men in the UK, with men walking away with £85,800 compared to £32,640 for divorced women. The research by Mercer, now:pensions and the Pension Policy Institute (PPI) also reveals a significant pension wealth gap among married couples, with men holding £111,540 and women’s average […]
New family leads for Collyer Bristow and Maguire Family Law
Manchester and Cheshire-based Maguire Family Law has appointed Jennifer Hudec to lead its Manchester city centre team, while Collyer Bristow has announced Kate Moran joins as partner in its London-based family team. Moran (main photo) joins from Collins & Hoy Solicitors, where she advised on complex matrimonial, financial and children matters. She brings significant experience […]
Non-molestation orders guidance comes into effect
The president of the Family Division, Sir Andrew McFarlane’s, Guidance 2026: Non-Molestation Orders under the Family Law Act 1996, which was published in December and replaces the 2023 Practice Guidance, came into effect yesterday. The revised guidance includes an updated template for a non-molestation order under Section 42 of the Family Law Act 1996, and […]
Grok AI is monetising abuse and government must act, Refuge warns
AI-generated image abuse is escalating at an unprecedented rate and the government and tech platforms must take urgent action to protect women and girls, the domestic abuse charity Refuge has warned. The call from Refuge comes in response to a growing number of users of the social media platform X, owned by Elon Musk, using […]
mfg Solicitors appoints Richard Port MBE to expand family team
Midlands law firm mfg Solicitors has strengthened its family team with the appointment of Richard Port MBE as partner and head of family in Birmingham. A highly experienced family law specialist with expertise in providing legal services to victims of domestic abuse and managing complex proceedings, Port advises on the full range of family law […]
Legal GiGZ launches ‘world first’ global directory of business of law conferences and events
Legal GiGZ, which claims to be the world’s first comprehensive directory of ‘business of law’ conferences and events, has launched a platform bringing together over 260 legal industry events across more than 40 countries. Founded by Shaun Jardine, a former law firm CEO and managing partner with over 30 years’ experience in the legal sector, […]
Researchers call for UK banking industry to ‘design out’ economic abuse
Researchers from Northumbria University and the University of London have called for the UK banking industry to ‘design out’ economic abuse, after a six-month study identified how banking products, services and technologies are intentionally weaponised by abusers. The report published by the authors of the research – Designing Out Economic Abuse in the UK Banking […]
MoJ sets out plans to fund justice system with interest on client accounts
The government has set out proposals to use interest on lawyers’ client accounts as “a crucial source of funding” to support and enhance services in the justice system. Funds would be directed to “areas of greatest need”, the Ministry of Justice said in a statement. The Interest on Lawyers’ Clients Accounts Scheme (ILCA) will see […]
Law Society urges government to support families with more funding for civil legal aid
The Law Society of England and Wales has highlighted how civil legal aid helps level the playing field for families, in oral evidence presented to the Justice Committee on access to justice and legal aid this week. “Civil legal aid is a vital public service that supports our communities and reduces the strain on other […]
Pathfinder analysis explores experiences of families and sets out further ‘valuable opportunities for learning’
The Ministry of Justice has published an analysis of the experience of children and families in its Pathfinder pilot, which was launched in Dorset and North Wales in February 2022 to improve the court experience and outcomes in private family law proceedings. Initial figures release by the MoJ suggested the pilot had been successful in […]
HMCTS updates solicitor rates, with recommended fees now up to £579 an hour
HM Courts and Tribunals Service (HMCTS) has updated its guideline hourly rates for solicitors, with a recommended 2.28% increase effective from 1 January. The increase will see the top hourly rate (a grade A fee earner in the London 1 category) rise to £579, with the lowest rate (grade D fee earners in the National […]
High Court rules transgender father cannot be named on birth certificate
A High Court judgment confirming that a transgender man cannot be registered as the father on the birth certificate of his children highlights the difficulties faced by transgender parents, and the implications of marriage within the statutory framework governing legal parenthood. In the judgment handed down last week following a hearing in July, Mrs Justice […]
Former INXS manager in £14 million divorce fight
A former rock band manager, her SAS major ex-husband and her estranged multimillionaire mum who “hates” her are locked in a £14 million three-way divorce court fight. Australian former INXS manager turned wealthy businesswoman Maria-Christina Copinger-Symes (pictured) married British SAS major James Copinger-Symes, 57, in 1998 and set up home with their four children in […]
Law Society asks government to clarify rules regarding use of AI in legal sector
The Law Society of England Wales has asked the government to clarify how AI can be used in legal services while upholding professional standards and public trust. Writing in response to a call for evidence from the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology (DSIT) in relation to its proposed AI Growth Lab, The Law Society […]
FMC hosts week of free webinars for Family Mediation Week 2026
The Family Mediation Council (FMC) is inviting family law professionals to take part in a series of free one-hour webinars during Family Mediation Week 2026, which will take place from 26-30 January. The annual awareness week, organised by the FMC, showcases how family mediation can support the work of solicitors, social workers, teachers and a […]
Senior appointments expand family teams for Jackson Lees and Harrogate Family Law
Jennifer Carr has joined the private family team at Jackson Lees as senior associate, while Harrogate Family Law has welcomed senior family lawyer Charlotte Davies to its team. Carr (main picture), who has more than 15 years’ experience as a solicitor across Merseyside and Cheshire, joins Jackson Lees from the Liverpool office of MSB Solicitors. […]
Families facing custody battles will benefit from £20m government legal fund
The government has pledged nearly £20 million in legal support for people facing debt, house repossession and custody battles, which will be delivered over the next three years. The grant, which will run from October 2026 to March 2029, will improve access to social welfare and family legal support for those who need help. “It […]
Govt launches recruitment drive for ‘ordinary people’ to become magistrates
The government is calling for “thousands of ordinary people from all walks of life” to help deliver justice by becoming magistrates. The Ministry of Justice said it is looking for “everyday heroes from all backgrounds” to deliver justice in local communities across the country. Over 2,000 extra magistrates have been trained since 2022 and the government intends the latest […]
Brachers completes acquisition of Gill Turner Tucker following Lawfront deal
Kent law firm Brachers has completed the acquisition of fellow Kent firm Gill Turner Tucker. The acquisition comes a year after Brachers’ partnership with private equity-backed Lawfront, in a deal which took the national group of regional law firms past £100 million revenue. The acquisition brings together two firms with deep roots in Kent: Gill […]