Firms share news of growth and acquisitions
National firm Pepperells Solicitors has strengthened its north east presence with its second acquisition in two months, following its acquisition of Elmhirst Parker LLP in October. The deal with Seaham-based Michael Cook Law Firm Limited reflects the company’s accelerated growth strategy, which focuses on expanding its presence across key UK regions and investing in experienced […]
Deputy PM meets legal sector leaders to develop ‘future-proofing’ plan
A new expert panel chaired by deputy prime minister David Lammy has met to discuss plans that will ensure the UK remains a leading global centre for legal services. Legal and business experts who make up the newly formed English Law Promotion Panel gathered to identify key opportunities to grow the sector, currently worth £42.6 […]
Home secretary confirms national inquiry into grooming gangs
The home secretary has given an oral statement to Parliament on the independent inquiry into grooming gangs, promising it will be completed within three years and supported by a £65 million budget. The inquiry will focus specifically on child sexual abuse committed by grooming gangs, and will explicitly consider the background of offenders, including their […]
Over half a million children to be lifted out of poverty in ‘historic’ strategy
A government strategy to lift 550,000 children out of poverty by 2030 will see the biggest reduction in poverty in a single parliament since records began, the prime minister’s office has said. Describing the strategy as “a moral mission for me,” the prime minister said the strategy will set “a new course for national renewal, […]
Youth Endowment Fund survey on teen abuse ‘deeply alarming’ – Refuge
A Youth Endowment Fund survey that has revealed high rates of domestic abuse among teenagers is “deeply alarming”, Refuge says. The UK’s largest specialist domestic abuse organisation said the survey data, which revealed two in five teens in relationships have experienced emotional or physical relationship abuse, is “sadly not surprising”. “At Refuge, our frontline services […]
Family Division order allowing hospital trust to remove child’s treatment was procedurally unfair
An order allowing a hospital trust to remove ventilation and other intensive care support from a child has been set aside after the Court of Appeal ruled the High Court hearing in which the decision was made was procedurally unfair. In R (A Child), the parents of the child appealed on the grounds the hearing […]
Govt confirms community based SEND support through Best Start Family Hubs
The government says families of children with SEND will receive faster, earlier support from community based early intervention to be rolled out in every Best Start Family Hub from April. As part of the government’s pledge to roll out the hubs in every local authority next year, councils are being tasked with recruiting an all-new […]
Taylor Rose and Switalskis boost family teams with senior lead appointments
Taylor Rose has marked “a significant step” in its plans to boost its family law division with the promotion of Amarjit Ryatt to head of family and divorce, while Switalskis has appointed Bradie Pell as solicitor and head of its family law team in Sheffield. Ryatt, who joined Taylor Rose through its merger with MW […]
UK law societies back landmark treaty to protect lawyers
UK law societies have united to call for urgent ratification of a new treaty designed to protect lawyers this World Human Rights Day (10 December). They say that the Council of Europe Convention for the Protection of the Profession of Lawyer provides a protective framework against the rising tide of harassment, threats and physical attacks that undermine their ability to do their job […]
Law Society welcomes clarity on digital assets
The Law Society has welcomed the formal recognition of digital assets as personal property in the upcoming Property (Digital Assets etc) Act, which received Royal Assent last week. For the first time digital assets will be formally recognised in law, putting them on the same footing as traditional categories of personal property. The Society said […]
CILEx publishes EDI strategy and diversity report, with focus on improving access to services
CILEx Regulation has published its new EDI strategy setting out its key objectives for the next three years, along with its Diversity Data Report for 2025. CILEx regulates chartered legal executive lawyers, other members of the Chartered Institute of Legal Executives (CILEX) and law firms. Data for the diversity report is drawn directly from the […]
Property tycoon Michael Fuchs guilty of contempt after breaching order in divorce dispute
Billionaire property tycoon Michael Fuchs has been found in contempt of court for breaching two orders made by the High Court in March, in a long-running divorce dispute with his former wife, journalist Alvina Collardeau-Fuchs. The application to commit Fuchs to prison for contempt was made by Collardeau, who alleged he had sold US properties […]
Digital assets to be recognised as personal property following legislative update
Digital assets are to be formally recognised in law after the Property (Digital Assets etc) Act received Royal Assent. Previously, many digital assets, including cryptocurrency or non-fungible tokens, had undefined legal rights. The updated legislation will formally recognise digital assets as personal property in the eyes of the law, allowing them to be treated in the same way […]
LAA failure ‘a breaking point for the system’, KC and data expert say
A leading KC and a data expert have shared the human, financial and systemic fallout from the Legal Aid Agency’s system failure, and warned the incident is a breaking point for a system already under pressure. When the Legal Aid Agency payment portal was shut down in 2024 following the cyber incident, barristers lost access […]
Government’s ‘swift and fair’ courts plan erodes rights, Law Society says
Deputy Prime Minister and Secretary of State for Justice David Lammy has announced plans to modernise the criminal courts and cut delays, in reforms he said would deliver ‘swift and fair’ justice for victims. But the Law Society of England and Wales says the proposals ‘erode the right to be judged by our own peers’ […]
Government confirms extra £92 million for criminal legal aid ‘after years of neglect’
The government will increase the amount of criminal legal aid by up to £92 million, the Minister for Courts and Legal Services Sarah Sackman KC (pictured) has announced. The investment lays the groundwork for longer-term reform to the justice system to ensure swifter justice for victims, the government said, with more updates expected later this […]
Reform of rape trials proposals will aim to stop victims ‘dropping out of the system’
Proposals outlined in the Law Commission’s ‘Evidence in sexual offences prosecutions’ published earlier this year have been taken forward by government with better support for victims of rape and fairer trials part of new proposals. Deputy prime minister, David Lammy, said the proposals have been introduced to stop victims of rape ‘dropping out of the […]
Court ‘no longer viable’ for many divorcing couples, firm says
Divorcing couples are increasingly choosing to avoid court because of increased costs and long waiting lists for hearings, according to a new analysis from family law firm Pepperells Solicitors. The emotional and financial toll of contested litigation means court is no longer viable, the firm says, with many favouring negotiation, mediation and other non-court routes. […]
Law Society research lays bare shocking scale of threats and abuse against solicitors
Research by the Law Society of England and Wales has laid bare the levels of threats faced by solicitors, with half of those interviewed for the research reporting threats or abuse related to their work in the last 12 months. The survey of 286 Law Society members, carried out in August, revealed ‘an alarmingly high’ […]
Stowe moves north to serve Scottish clients with strategic partnership
Stowe Family Law has partnered with Scottish firm Kee Solicitors in an effort to ‘become the first choice for family law’ and extend its service offering to more prospective clients. The partnership adds the ability to deal with Scottish matters to the private-equity backed law firm which has more than 90 offices across England and […]