Courts Seek Thousands Of New Magistrates As Backlog Rises

By Eddie Beaver

The Ministry of Justice called Saturday for thousands of people to volunteer as magistrates amid a rising backlog of cases waiting to be heard in the criminal courts.

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Analysis

Legal Industry Regulation Battles To Watch In 2026

By Marialuisa Taddia

Regulation will remain front and center for the legal sector in 2026, with the Solicitors Regulation Authority under pressure to strengthen oversight, while litigation funders continue to fight to upend a decision they say has damaged their business. Here, Law360 explores what the new year could bring for the U.K. legal industry.

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Analysis

2026 Could Bring US-Driven PE Investment In Law

By Marialuisa Taddia

Private equity investment in U.K. law firms has largely focused on regional players and consumer-facing practice areas, but 2026 could bring a U.S.-driven shift with investors targeting bigger firms and injecting capital on an unprecedented scale, experts say.

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FCA Launches Probe Into Claims Manager Over Sales Tactics

By Christopher Crosby

The City watchdog opened an investigation on Friday into a claims manager over concerns about the company's sales and marketing tactics as part of the wave of litigation over motor finance commission payments.

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Analysis

What To Expect From The Competition Appeal Tribunal In 2026

By Joanne Faulkner

With a new president at the helm, potential government reform and a crowded trial calendar, lawyers say the next 12 months will see a Competition Appeal Tribunal with a more disciplined judicial culture.

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Analysis

What To Expect From Financial Crime Regulation In 2026

By Christopher Crosby

Plans by the government to reform the criminal justice system by scrapping jury trials in cases of complex fraud headline a series of regulatory and legislative changes on the cards for 2026 in cases of economic crime.

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Brief

Vos Recommends 2.3% Civil Case Hourly Rates Rise For 2026

By Marialuisa Taddia

HM Courts & Tribunals Service has recommended that hourly fees for solicitors in England and Wales who work on civil cases rise by about 2.3%, marking the third consecutive year of increases.

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Kirsty Brimelow Takes Up Role As Bar Council Chair

By Ashish Sareen

Kirsty Brimelow KC has officially become the new chair of the Bar Council, starting her term amid opposition across the legal profession to government plans to tackle mounting court backlogs by scrapping jury trials for some criminal cases.

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Linklaters' Paul Lewis Awarded OBE For Community Service

By Marialuisa Taddia

Paul Lewis, firmwide managing partner at Linklaters, has been awarded an OBE for his community service work as he joins a group of lawyers recognized in the new year's honors list.

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