Defamation row highlights surge in university litigation
Legal disputes around higher education are becoming common and law faculties are not exempt — as a row between a university lecturer and a former student graphically illustrates. In a preliminary issues hearing at the Royal Courts of Justice in London last month, Aidan Eardley KC, a deputy High Court judge, set out the details …
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What is a breach of contract?
Hayley Evans, senior associate within the JMW Commercial Litigation team, explains the four main types of breach of contract, how to navigate a claim and the legal remedies available A breach of contract occurs when a party to a legally binding agreement fails to perform their obligations as set out in the contract, whether through …
Why rising litigation is an early warning sign of an economy-wide data overload
UK law firm Shoosmiths’ prediction of a 75% rise in business disputes this year might look like a legal industry problem, but it’s an early warning sign that organisations are generating more information than they can realistically understand, navigate, or act on. Over the past decade, organisations have quietly become data factories. Emails, contracts, messages, …
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Why Financial Fear After Divorce Is Normal and How to Move Through It With Confidence
“I’m terrified about money.” I hear this constantly from women going through divorce—even women who’ve always paid the bills, worked in finance, or managed every aspect of household finances. Financial fear after divorce is common. They feel overwhelmed, intimidated, and often ashamed of that fear. If that’s you, please hear this first: there is nothing …
Why mediation (not litigation) should be your first call
In the final instalment from Nicola K Smith, the estate dispute specialist explains why mediation is almost always better than litigation, and shares tips on how to encourage clients to talk before taking action. When families fall out over a will or an estate, it’s tempting to think that the only solution is to ‘go …
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Brewdog calls time as advisers brought in to assess bidders
Independent craft beer brewer, Brewdog, has called in advisers to oversee a sale that could trigger a break-up of one of Scotland’s well-known businesses. The board of Brewdog, which brands include Punk IPA and Elvis Juice, has appointed restructuring experts Alix Partners to attract interest from potential bidders, first reported by Sky News. Sources said …
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Why agents are asking athletes to get a pre-nup this Valentine’s Day
Saturday 14 February 2026 8:00 am | Updated: Friday 13 February 2026 10:51 am The rise of the pre-nuptial agreement continues unabated. And never more so than for young successful athletes who tick all the ‘you need an agreement’ boxes – rapid accumulation of wealth, short career spans and public interest in their private lives. For …
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What Is Crypto Litigation? – TechRound
At the outset, crypto was supposed to remove the need for middlemen – no banks, no gatekeepers, n paperwork. Just code, wallets and decentralised systems that could run themselves. But, as anyone who’s spent more than five minutes in the crypto world knows, decentralisation doesn’t remove conflict – it just changes what conflict looks like. …
The next phase of civil justice: can artificial intelligence assist with mediation’s integration int…
The role of mediation in civil litigation changed significantly on 22 May 2024 with the implementation of a new Practice Directive. Parties to small dispute claims under £10,000 are now automatically referred for mediation within the HM Courts & Tribunals Service (HMCTS). With this reform, mediation has become an integrated feature of the civil justice …
Who pays? Funding litigation and when costs can come from the estate
When estate disputes become legal battles, who foots the bill? This week, Nicola K Smith breaks down the options, sharing her specialist knowledge with practitioners to pass onto clients facing unexpected fees. Legal disputes about estates are stressful enough but the question everyone asks is: How much will this cost me? And more importantly, who …
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Do I have a stake in my former partner’s house even though I wasn’t on the deeds?
My former partner and I were never married, but we purchased a property in his name only in August 2018. We were together for 25 years and have three children together. The house cost £100,000. We got it cheap as it was a doer-upper, previously on the market for £125,000. I paid half the total …
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Use of AI in litigation could itself become contentious, says expert
Caroline Hearn of Pinsent Masons raised the prospect after a taskforce of legal experts set out their views on liability for AI harms. The draft legal statement published by the UK Jurisdiction Taskforce (UKJT), which is open to consultation until 13 February, is non-binding on courts – the UKJT aims to provide some clarity …
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HR Magazine – Litigation lag: the hidden risk HR can’t afford to ignore
Employment law change is rarely subtle. HR leaders are used to keeping tabs on new rights, updated guidance and shifting compliance obligations. But one of the most significant risks now emerging for employers is far less visible and far easier to underestimate. With ACAS’ early conciliation window now 12 weeks instead of six, and employment …
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How to End a Marriage with Someone You Love
How do you end a marriage with someone you love? For some, the decision is a no-brainer. But for most, this is one of the most complex and emotional decisions they will ever make. People end marriages for many reasons, but a lack of love is not typically one of the reasons. It can be …
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Business confidence drops in blow to Labour
Business confidence fell again at the start of the year, according to a tracker frequently cited by Keir Starmer and Rachel Reeves, dealing a blow to the government in its hopes of boosting the UK economy before difficult elections in May. Starmer and Reeves have frequently pointed to the Lloyds Bank business barometer when speaking …
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Prepare for Trauma-Based Decisions in White-Collar Litigation
Attorneys usually analyze white-collar cases through formal legal frameworks: statutes, guidelines, charging decisions, cooperation credit, and sentencing outcomes. But they often overlook the psychological conditions—such as acute stress, fear, and disorientation—under which defendants make the most consequential decisions of their lives. Trauma-based decision making is central to white-collar cases. Trauma shapes judgment, risk tolerance, and …
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Civil litigation: AI and the evolving role of solicitors
The UK approach to AI regulation – favouring sector-led oversight over statutory controls – combined with the rapid adoption of AI in legal practice, has highlighted areas where regulatory and judicial frameworks will likely evolve further. Recent cases such as Ayinde v London Borough of Haringey and Al-Haroun v Qatar National Bank (which were heard …
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‘Far too little, far too late’: Fury as Reeves sends junior minister to announce paltry 15% off business rates for pubs – but only for three years and wider hospitality sector gets nothing
Rachel Reeves was accused of doing ‘far too little, far too late’ today after she sent a junior minister to unveil her pubs bailout. After an outcry by Labour MPs at the prospect of thousands of closures, pubs are to get 15 per cent off business rates from April. However, low-ranking Treasury minister Dan Tomlinson …
Navigating Divorce Across Borders, Cultures, and Legal Systems
Divorce is one of the most emotionally disruptive experiences a person can go through. Even under the best circumstances, it shakes your sense of safety, identity, and future. Now imagine navigating divorce in a country that is not your own. A place where the language may not be your first, the laws are unfamiliar, the …
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