April 24, 2026
Mrs Townsend sought permission to apply to the Court of Protection regarding withdrawal of dialysis from her incapacitated father. The Trust claimed it was a 'clinical decision' outside best interests scrutiny. The Court of Appeal rejected this distinction, holding all such decisions require best interests analysis. Facts Robert Barnor, aged...
April 24, 2026
Two claimants challenged the Metropolitan Police Commissioner's September 2024 policy on live facial recognition technology, alleging it breached Articles 8, 10 and 11 ECHR by granting officers excessive discretion. The Divisional Court dismissed the claim, holding the policy was sufficiently foreseeable and non-arbitrary. Facts The claim concerned the legality of...
April 24, 2026
Huda Ammori, co-founder of Palestine Action, challenged the Home Secretary's decision to proscribe the group under the Terrorism Act 2000. The High Court found the decision unlawful for breaching the Home Secretary's own policy and disproportionately interfering with Convention rights under Articles 10 and 11. Facts On 5 July 2025,...
April 24, 2026
Glencore and the Claimants disputed the scope of legal advice privilege over intra-client documents. Picken J held that privilege extends to communications between members of the client group created for the dominant purpose of seeking legal advice, even where no lawyer is party to them. Facts This judgment forms part...
April 24, 2026
How CILEX v Mazur [2026] rescued paralegals, law centres & PI firms from accidental criminality & what it says about who practises law.
April 24, 2026
The SRA intervened in Ms Khan's solicitors' firm for suspected dishonesty. She continued practising through a not-for-profit company, claiming entitlement under s.23 Legal Services Act 2007. The High Court granted injunctions restraining her from carrying on reserved legal activities without a valid practising certificate. Facts On 19 August 2021, the...
April 24, 2026
Neighbours disputed trespass and encroachment from building works. After a small claims trial awarded only £100, the Court of Appeal considered whether earlier refusals of permission to appeal could be reopened and whether a power of attorney holder could conduct litigation and advocacy on a party's behalf. Facts The claimants,...
April 24, 2026
Ndole Assets' claim form was served by CSD Legal, an unauthorised claims consultancy. The Court of Appeal held service constituted a reserved legal activity under the Legal Services Act 2007, but this irregularity did not render service a nullity, so the claim stood. Facts Sheldon Construction engaged the defendant, Designer...
April 24, 2026
Mr Baxter sought to commit Mrs Doble and her company for contempt, alleging they unlawfully conducted litigation for his landlord in possession proceedings without being authorised under the Legal Services Act 2007. The court found conduct of litigation occurred but the statutory defence applied. Facts The Applicant, Mr Baxter, was...
April 24, 2026
Tennis star Andre Agassi, having won his tax appeal, sought to recover costs paid to Tenon Media, tax specialists who instructed counsel directly under the Bar's Licensed Access Scheme. The Court of Appeal held he was a litigant in person and most of Tenon's fees were irrecoverable as disbursements. Facts...
April 24, 2026
Six conjoined appeals concerning the enforceability of Conditional Fee Agreements under the 2000 Regulations. The Court of Appeal held that only material breaches rendering CFAs unenforceable, rejected technical challenges by defendant insurers, and established procedures for CFA disclosure in costs assessments. Facts These six conjoined appeals concerned the new Conditional...
April 24, 2026
A clear, practical guide to estoppel: history, key cases from Pickard v Sears to Guest v Guest, modern developments, and continuing tensions.
April 24, 2026
Landlords misrepresented asbestos contamination in warehouse bays let to CDS, failing to disclose reports in replies to pre-contract enquiries. The Court of Appeal held non-reliance clauses fell within section 3 Misrepresentation Act 1967, were unreasonable, and upheld £1.4m damages. Facts First Tower Trustees Ltd and Intertrust Trustees Ltd, as trustees...
April 24, 2026
Reprotech bought a waste treatment site and claimed a council committee resolution varying a planning condition amounted to a binding determination that generating electricity needed no fresh planning permission. The House of Lords disagreed, allowing the council's appeal and rejecting estoppel arguments in planning law. Facts In 1989 East Sussex...
April 24, 2026
Springwell, a Polemis family investment vehicle, lost heavily on Russian GKO-Linked Notes purchased from Chase after Russia's 1998 default. It sued Chase for misrepresentation and breach of duty. The Court of Appeal dismissed the appeal, confirming contractual estoppel through non-reliance clauses is enforceable. Facts Springwell Navigation Corporation, the treasury company...
April 24, 2026
Peekay invested US$250,000 in a Russian GKO-linked structured deposit through ANZ after a bank employee gave a misleading description. The Court of Appeal held Peekay was not induced by that misrepresentation, as the final terms and signed risk disclosure statement clearly described the actual product. Facts Peekay Intermark Ltd, an...
April 24, 2026
Mr Yaxley carried out building works on a property based on an oral agreement that he would receive the ground floor. The Court of Appeal held that section 2 of the 1989 Act did not prevent relief through proprietary estoppel or constructive trust. Facts Mr Keith Yaxley, a self-employed builder,...
April 24, 2026
The Indian Government obtained a small judgment in Cochin for short delivery of munitions, then pursued a larger cargo damage claim via an Admiralty action in rem in England. The House of Lords held section 34 of the Civil Jurisdiction and Judgments Act 1982 barred the English action, rejecting the...
April 24, 2026
Marks & Spencer abruptly terminated a 30-year supply relationship with Baird Textiles without notice. Baird claimed an implied contract and estoppel required reasonable notice. The Court of Appeal held neither claim had real prospects of success, affirming contractual certainty requirements and that estoppel cannot create a cause of action outside...
April 24, 2026
Mr Collier, jointly liable with two partners on a judgment debt, claimed a creditor had agreed to accept only his one-third share. The Court of Appeal held no binding contract existed but set aside the statutory demand, finding a triable promissory estoppel issue. Facts Mr Collier was in partnership with...
April 24, 2026
David Thorner worked unpaid for nearly 30 years on his cousin Peter's Somerset farm, relying on oblique assurances that he would inherit it. Peter died intestate. The House of Lords upheld David's proprietary estoppel claim, restoring the trial judge's order granting him the farm. Facts The appellant, David Thorner, a...
April 24, 2026
A property developer obtained planning permission for a site under an oral 'agreement in principle' with the owner, who then reneged and demanded better terms. The House of Lords held proprietary estoppel and constructive trust were unavailable, awarding only a quantum meruit for services rendered. Facts Mr Cobbe, an experienced...
April 24, 2026
Mr Jennings cared for elderly Mrs Royle unpaid for years, relying on her assurances that 'this will all be yours one day'. She died intestate. The Court of Appeal upheld an award of £200,000 under proprietary estoppel, confirming relief must be proportionate to detriment, not automatically match expectation. Facts Mrs...
April 24, 2026
Mr Gillett worked devotedly for Mr Holt for nearly 40 years, relying on repeated assurances he would inherit the farming business. After a falling out, Mr Holt changed his will in favour of Mr Wood. The Court of Appeal upheld Mr Gillett's proprietary estoppel claim. Facts Mr Geoffrey Gillett first...
April 24, 2026
A father gave his son land to build a house on, signing a memorandum. The son spent £14,000 building a residence with the father's approval. The Lord Chancellor held the son was entitled to the fee simple, not merely a life estate, establishing proprietary estoppel principles. Facts The testator, Llewelyn...
May 1, 2026
National Case Law Archive
May 1, 2026
National Case Law Archive
May 1, 2026
National Case Law Archive