Issue: April 2025

Sentencing – motoring offences

April 2025 | Crime

Sentencing guidelines for those convicted of motoring offences committed while driving vehicles without the owner’s consent came into effect on 1 April 2025. They replace the earlier guidelines (which only covered sentencing by magistrates). The new guidelines cover four aggravated vehicle taking offences: causing death, causing injury, dangerous driving and causing vehicle/property damage. Criminal defence …

Continue reading “Sentencing – motoring offences”

This article is only available to subscribers.

Commonhold – White Paper

April 2025 | Land

The government has updated its policy paper: ‘Commonhold White Paper: The proposed new commonhold model for homeownership in England and Wales‘. This is a topic which practitioners may need to become conversant with. While commonhold has been with us for 20 years, its meagre take up meant that it was largely consigned to history. However, …

Continue reading “Commonhold – White Paper”

This article is only available to subscribers.

EAT – unfair dismissal

April 2025 | Employment

The EAT has heard an interesting case regarding unfair dismissal and maternity rights. The case summary is as follows: ‘Unfair dismissal – automatic unfair dismissal – section 99 Employment Rights Act 1996 – maternity rights – regulations 10 and 20(1)(b) Maternity and Parental Leave etc Regulations 1999 Practice and procedure – schedule 1 of the …

Continue reading “EAT – unfair dismissal”

This article is only available to subscribers.

SC – adverse possession

April 2025 | Land

The SC has heard an important case regarding adverse possession which will be of interest to all property practitioners. The case summary is as follows: ‘Background to the Appeal This is a case about adverse possession. Mr Brown (the respondent) is the registered owner of land lying to the west of the Promenade, Consett, County …

Continue reading “SC – adverse possession”

This article is only available to subscribers.

ET remedies – increase

April 2025 | Employment

Employment lawyers should note that from 6 April 2025, the Employment Rights (Increase of Limits) Order 2025 comes into effect. This Order increases the limits applying to certain awards which ETs can make, and other sums payable under employment legislation, as specified in the Schedule to the Order. Practitioners must read all of it but …

Continue reading “ET remedies – increase”

This article is only available to subscribers.

CA – CFA

April 2025 | Professional

The CA has heard a case in which the issue was whether the Conditional Fee Agreement (‘CFA’) entered into between the respondent (the claimant in the original proceedings) and his solicitors Boyes Turner LLP (‘BT’) on 24 March 2015 had retrospective effect. Both the Costs Judge and Lavender J decided that it did. The appellants, …

Continue reading “CA – CFA”

This article is only available to subscribers.

EAT – harassment and victimisation

April 2025 | Employment

The EAT has heard an important case relating to racist abuse being made against a professional footballer. The case summary is as follows: ‘The appellant, a professional footballer, played for the first respondent between 2021 and 2022. After a match on 11 September 2021, the appellant learned of an allegation that one of the first …

Continue reading “EAT – harassment and victimisation”

This article is only available to subscribers.

CLC – closure of compensation fund pool

April 2025 | Professional

The CLC has issued a notice to clients as follows: ‘If you were a client of a CLC regulated practice who acted for you in an investment property transaction such as the purchase of hotel rooms and student accommodation units in developments that did not complete (“Investment Property Transactions”) and have incurred a direct loss …

Continue reading “CLC – closure of compensation fund pool”

This article is only available to subscribers.

EAT – disability discrimination

April 2025 | Employment

The EAT has heard an appeal regarding that fertile ground for employment claims: disability discrimination and the Equality Act 2010. The case summary is as follows: ‘Practice and procedure – rule 37(1) schedule 1 of the Employment Tribunal (Constitution and Rules of Procedure) Regulations 2013 – striking out an application for costs The ET had …

Continue reading “EAT – disability discrimination”

This article is only available to subscribers.

SC – success fee

April 2025 | Professional

The SC has also heard an interesting case regarding the interrelationship between success fees under a CFA and an order for financial provision under the Inheritance (Provision for Family and Dependants) Act 1975. The case summary is as follows: ‘Background to the Appeal The issue on this appeal is whether an order for financial provision …

Continue reading “SC – success fee”

This article is only available to subscribers.