Death knell for judge-led inquiries? Lord Leveson refuses to be drawn on MPs’ questions
It is not difficult to see why Lord Leveson’s refusal to assist MPs with their latest questions over the future of…
Legal affairs
Regulatory upheaval: MoJ reshuffle leaves reforms uncertain as LSB drops Herbert Smith for judicial review
The future of regulatory reform of the legal sector appears to be hanging in the balance as justice minister Helen…
Guest blog – In the small print: Huge shake up in UK bribery enforcement, US style whistleblowing & UK False Claims Act
Buried in the small print and missed by many in the hullabaloo surrounding the launch of the new UK National Crime…
IBA 2013: ‘We need to be the tip of the spear’ – the global anti-corruption push is gathering pace
With a packed programme at the International Bar Association’s (IBA) annual conference in Boston, working out which of the many…
Global ambassador: CMS partner Fiona Woolf to represent the City as Lord Mayor
The City legal profession collectively regards itself as a global ambassador for UK enterprise but CMS Cameron McKenna energy partner Fiona Woolf has…
Wigs and veils up for discussion by Lady Hale and Lord Neuberger in Supreme Court briefing to mark a new legal year
Deputy president of the Supreme Court Lady Hale today (2 October) advocated a new approach to attracting youths from diverse backgrounds…
Guest post: Grayling’s conference speech – main points and some reflections
Earlier this week, Chris Grayling MP, Secretary of State for Justice and Lord Chancellor, delivered his speech to the Conservative…
Legal aid reform: Grayling scraps competitive tendering plans
Fears that the government is reducing the justice system to a ‘stack it high and sell it cheap’ model were…
Guest post – Syria: the UK can legally use force
In some ways this week, with the recall of Parliament and the UK tabling a UN resolution, seems like a…
Guest post: Could David Miranda be a “terrorist”?
There’s understandably been a great deal of reaction to the nine-hour detention at Heathrow airport of David Miranda, who was…
UK legal services regulation ‘steals a competitive march’ as Jacoby & Meyers launches European venture
Jacoby & Meyers is to establish a new joint venture in the UK as the major US consumer law firm…
Why the Serious Fraud Office should now be left to get on with its knitting
The Serious Fraud Office (SFO) is an organisation under pressure. Pressure from MPs over the severance packages of former executives,…
Judicial watch: Sir John Thomas handed top judicial role as Lady Justice Hallett misses out
Despite speculation that the UK could be set for the first woman Lord Chief Justice, it was this week confirmed…
Guest post: There is a market for judges emerging – but only winning with the oligarchs is not the answer either
Moses LJ has set his satirical pen a scribbling in a recent speech reported in the Gazette. It simplifies, as…
Legal profession forms united front on proposed cuts to legal aid
Last month court staff across the country took the unusual step of going on strike in a rare show of…
Deferred Prosecution Agreements: Form over substance?
The Serious Fraud Office (SFO) last week published a draft Code of Practice setting out their approach to the use…
Government spending review brings legal aid cuts and privatisation closer as MoJ’s budget cut by 10%
The government’s plans to cut criminal legal aid and privatise parts of the court services appeared to edge one step…
City lawyers say court strike will cause minimal disruption but should be given due attention
As court staff go on strike this afternoon (17 June) in protest at the Ministry of Justice’s (MoJ’s) plans to…
Consumer protection dragged into 21st century with new Bill that could open floodgates to class actions
A Consumer Rights Bill published on Wednesday (12 June) is set to radically overhaul the rights of consumers in the digital…
Guest post: Legal aid reform – a fiscal realist’s view
Even I’m concerned about Chris Grayling’s proposals for criminal legal aid. When the government announced cuts to civil legal aid,…