David Lammy rejects higher pay rise for judges amid recruitment crisis May 26, 2026 David Lammy turned down an independent recommendation for a higher judicial pay increase, instead approving a 3.5 per cent rise amid government efforts to tackle recruitment challenges for senior judges. The Senior Salaries Review Body (SSRB) report, published last week, recommended a 3.8 per cent pay increase across the judiciary, estimated to cost taxpayers around [...]
Lawyers for alleged Prince Andrew trafficking victim now in contact with Police May 22, 2026 The Police confirmed that they are “engaging” with the lawyers of a woman who claims she was trafficked for sex at Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor’s address in Windsor. In its first update on Friday, Thames Valley Police emphasised that if she wishes to report her allegations, they will be “taken seriously and handled with care, sensitivity and [...]
Enhanced Games on metaphorical trial: is the risk worth it for partners? May 22, 2026 The Enhanced Games wants to sell itself as the future: faster, louder, richer and finally honest about the drugs elite sport has spent decades pretending do not exist. This weekend it lands in Las Vegas with a simple proposition. Let athletes use performance-enhancing drugs under medical supervision, put big prize money on the table, stream [...]
‘We cannot regulate cyber threats away,’ top lawyer warns May 21, 2026 British businesses are facing a growing compliance burden as governments race to respond to rising threats and the rapid spread of AI, but regulation alone may not solve the problem. “We cannot regulate cyber threats away”, partner and head of data and cyber at international law firm RPC Cavan Fabris told City AM. “There’s a [...]
Lawyers say fee hikes punishes profession for regulator blunders May 21, 2026 The legal watchdog plans to raise its funding by increasing lawyer fees to address past shortfalls, but the legal profession is frustrated, arguing they are being forced to pay for the regulator’s own failures and legacy issues, writes Maria Ward-Brennan. Lawyers are not chuffed at the regulator’s plan to increase its fees in the upcoming [...]
Job cuts at Big Four firms fuel worker burnout May 20, 2026 Job cuts at professional services firms are resulting in overworked staff, but the pressures – combined with increased reliance on AI – risk damaging firms’ reputations through mistakes, writes Maria Ward-Brennan. The professional services industry, especially the Big Four giants, has faced its fair share of job cuts, with thousands of roles laid off in [...]
Regulator under pressure as solicitor misconduct reports soar nearly 30 per cent May 18, 2026 Reports about solicitors’ misconduct have spiked by nearly 30 per cent in the past year, new data from the Solicitors’ Regulation Authority (SRA) has revealed. The watchdog, which regulates more than 200,000 solicitors in England and Wales and 9,000 law firms, said there is “a large increase” in misconduct reports and the number of investigations [...]
Jury trial controversy looms over Starmer after King’s Speech points to reform May 13, 2026 Controversial government plans to trim back the use of jury trials were included in the King’s Speech on Wednesday, as an embattled Keir Starmer persevered with an long-trailed overhaul of the UK’s criminal justice system. The Courts Modernisation Bill could become the latest issue over which Downing Street and the parliamentary Labour Party clash at [...]
Poundstretcher seeks rent cuts in survival bid May 7, 2026 Discount retailer Poundstretcher is set to be restructured by its owner, Fortress Investment Group, to reduce property-related overheads and avoid closure. The plan will see the retail chain, which operates 298 stores in the UK, stabilise a “substantial fall in turnover” and rising leasehold costs, the Insolvency and Companies Court heard today. In the High [...]
Divorce costs hit finances beyond lawyer fees, says Octopus legal group May 6, 2026 Divorce costs are financially draining for separating couples in the UK beyond just legal fees, according to a new report from Octopus-owned legal service, Amicable. The report, which surveyed 2,000 UK adults who have either divorced, separated, or dissolved a civil partnership over the last 10 years, found that almost 40 per cent said their [...]