Rehana Begum discusses the importance of Article 6 (ECHR) in the context of remote interim removal hearings and the need for very careful weighing of the balance of harm during the current health crisis. In what has been a practically vertical learning curve for me in terms of getting to grips with technology for remote… Read more »
On 23rd March 2020, and in response to the COVID-19 pandemic, the Prime Minister confined the country to isolation. The message was clear, no one was permitted to leave their homes except to carry out essential shopping, daily exercise or to attend work. In these truly exceptional times, the question for many separated families has… Read more »
Judgment in the Court of Appeal case of Re A (Children) (Remote Hearing: Care and Placement Orders) [2020] EWCA Civ 583 was handed down this morning (30th April 2020). The case is the first appeal in a case relating to the welfare of children to reach the Court of Appeal on the issue of remote hearings… Read more »
In the interests of promoting health and wellbeing during this current crisis, members of 18 St John Street have been joining Yvonne Healing in daily yoga sessions. We would now like to extend this to our instructing solicitors! If you are interested in learning more about yoga, or building on your practice, I am happy to provide remote… Read more »
This article is a brief update on the changes to the Practice Direction at CPR 32 in relation to foreign language statements and the urgent changes that need to be introduced in cases involving non-English (or Welsh) speakers. This change, along with the other most recent updates, have been very helpfully highlighted by Sarah Wait… Read more »
A new statutory instrument came into force on 24th April 2020 as a result of the government deeming that it was necessary during the current pandemic to vary current legislation (albeit temporarily until 25th September 2020). Evonnie Chan looks at the question of whether these amendments have properly balanced the need to ensure that children are… Read more »
Whether viewed from the perspective of “Act of God” providing a defence at common law for non-performance of a contract, or, from the perspective of an alternative escape route from contractual liability through a force majeure clause in a commercial contract, the COVID-19 pandemic raises some interesting questions for commercial litigators. Jonathan Dale takes a look. In… Read more »
Stephen Murray discusses The Family Procedure (Amendment) Rules 2020 – The latest amendments to the FPR 2010 will come into force, as far as the provisions referred to below are concerned, on 6 July 2020. They contain one amendment of general application and two amendments specifically related to financial remedy work which may be of interest… Read more »
John Chukwuemeka discusses the upcoming Judgment in Re: A (A Child : Remote Hearing) due tomorrow (28 April 2020). 1. In the wake of Re P (A Child: Remote Hearing) [2020] EWFC 32, on 22 April 2020, a Court of Appeal constituted of the President of the Family Division (Sir Andrew McFarlane), Lord Justice Peter Jackson… Read more »
Upon my recent Article entitled “The Impact of Coronavirus (COVID-19) on Housing and Real Estate Litigation” I concluded that “we can expect further developments in the area of housing and real estate litigation commensurate with how society is impacted by the coronavirus”. I had not appreciated that further developments would arise within a month of… Read more »
Due to the Coronavirus pandemic, Crown Court trials are being taken out of the list for April and May, with new trial dates being fixed. Many defendants in custody will therefore be given a new trial date which is outside of their custody time limit. On 7th April 2020 the “Coronavirus Crisis Protocol for the… Read more »