Blog
Remote Mediation and the COVID-19 pandemic
With the pandemic crisis showing little sign of abating and HM Government’s lockdown measures taking effect, the traditional system of Civil and Family Justice in England and Wales, by means of Court or Tribunal based litigation, has significantly slowed. In their most recent ‘Message to Circuit and District Judges in Civil and Family’, dated 9th […]
ADR – Compromise in COVID-19 lockdown
With the courts shutting their doors to the majority of litigants following the outbreak of Coronavirus, now more than ever parties and their lawyers are turning their minds to alternative dispute resolution (ADR). From virtual mediations to remote ENEs and arbitrations, there are plenty of forms of ADR which can be conducted effectively during […]
The impact of Covid-19 on some high-profile businesses so far
In response to the coronavirus pandemic, the UK government has introduced the following range of business support measures: Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme (furloughing); Coronavirus Business Interruption Loan Scheme; Coronavirus Large Business Interruption Loan Scheme; Self-employment Income Support Scheme; Business Rates Holiday for Retail, Hospitality and Leisure (England only); Cash Grant for Retail, Hospitality and Leisure […]
Family Law Arbitration: Is it for me?
On 22nd February 2012 a new method of alternative dispute resolution was launched to assist parties to resolve their family problems: arbitration. Arbitration in Family Law developed at around the time when the scope of legal aid was being restricted as a result of the Legal Aid, Sentencing and Punishment of Offenders Act 2012 and […]
Lucy’s Law
On Monday 6 April 2020, the Government brought into force new legislation in England to ban the commercial third-party sale of puppies and kittens, under six months old, by anyone other than a registered breeder. The Animal Welfare (Licensing of Activities Involving Animals) (England) Regulations 2018 provided for the licensing of persons in England to […]
Housing Law in the Coronavirus Pandemic
Stay at Home – Housing Law in the Coronavirus Pandemic In a time when we are all being urged to stay in our homes it seems appropriate to consider the recent changes to Housing Law in light of the Coronavirus pandemic. This article will consider the Coronavirus Act 2020, Practice Direction 51Z and the Guidance […]
Lessons to be learned from the Marie Dinou case
Marie Dinou, the woman from York convicted of a non-existent coronavirus offence after being found “loitering between platforms” at Newcastle railway station was lucky to be charged with something newsworthy. Had hers been a mundane motoring charge it is highly unlikely that anyone would have spotted that her treatment by the police and the justice […]
The Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme
The Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme (“the Scheme”) was announced by the government on 20th March 2020. The government’s published guidance states that “it is designed to help employers whose operations have been severely affected by coronavirus (COVID-19) to retain their employees and protect the UK economy.” The Scheme allows all UK employers to claim a […]
The Legal Impact of Covid-19 – The View from Two Jurisdictions
In this two-part article, Jennifer Lee of Pump Court Chambers, and Ezane Chong of Ariff Rozhan & Co., reflect on the guidance issued in the UK and Malaysia concerning Covid-19, and the impact of the pandemic on courts and litigants in their respective jurisdictions.
Implied warnings to Trial Counsel
Case Commentary – R v RT & Anor [2020] EWCA Crim 155 and R v Reece (David) [2020] EWCA Crim 44 –Implied warnings to Trial Counsel Introduction In R v RT & Anor [2020] EWCA Crim 155 and R v Reece [2020] EWCA Crim 44, the Court of Appeal dismissed appeals against conviction. The […]
Contact and the Coronavirus: COVID-19 and its Impact on Separated Families
About 7 ½ weeks after the first reported coronavirus case in the UK, and after some 6,000 confirmed cases, the Prime Minister addressed the nation confirming that in an attempt to halt the spread of the worldwide pandemic the public were being told to stay at home in order to stop the disease spreading. He […]
The Terrorist Offenders (Restriction of Early Release) Bill
The Terrorist Offenders (Restriction of Early Release) Bill was introduced into Parliament on the 3rd February 2020, as ‘emergency legislation’ in response to the Streatham Hill terrorist attack that took place on 2nd February 2020. This terrorist incident followed two other attacks by men who had also been convicted of terrorism offences and had recently […]