Dr Eskander emailed her appeal against a GMC suspension to the Administrative Court on the final day of the 28-day period but paid no fee. The Court of Appeal held, applying Siniakovich, that her appeal was brought in time despite non-payment. Facts Dr Amy Eskander, a Specialist Registrar in Neurology,...
K1 sought permission to appeal a refusal to amend its arbitration award challenge under s.68(2)(g) of the Arbitration Act 1996. The Court of Appeal held it lacked jurisdiction under s.68(4), as the first instance judge is sole gatekeeper for permission to appeal. Facts The Applicant (K1) brought an in-time challenge...
Test cases from thousands of military noise-induced hearing loss claims against the MoD. The High Court determined generic issues including diagnostic methods, quantification, and tinnitus, preferring Prof Moore's rM-NIHL method over CLB for diagnosis. Mr Lambie succeeded; Mr Craggs largely failed on causation. Facts This litigation concerns over 10,000 claims...
Two asylum-seeking mothers challenged prolonged hotel accommodation under s.95 Immigration and Asylum Act 1999. The High Court held hotel rooms were not 'dwellings' under Part X Housing Act 1985, but found the Home Secretary breached her duty to provide 'adequate' accommodation during specified periods. Facts The claimants, SH and BWO,...
The Good Law Project and three individuals challenged EHRC guidance issued after For Women Scotland concerning single-sex facilities. The High Court held the guidance was lawful, the Good Law Project lacked standing, and no Convention rights were breached. The claim was dismissed. Facts Following the Supreme Court’s judgment in For...
Martin Groom, a volunteer Coastguard Rescue Officer, was denied trade union accompaniment at a disciplinary appeal. The Court of Appeal held that CROs are 'workers' under s 230(3)(b) of the Employment Rights Act 1996 when attending remunerated activities, dismissing the MCA's appeal. Facts Martin Groom served as a Coastguard Rescue...
WH Holding challenged an expert's determination that it owed an additional £3.6m under an overage clause in a stadium concession agreement. The Court of Appeal allowed E20's appeal, holding the expert's contractual interpretation was not so obviously wrong as to constitute manifest error. Facts E20 Stadium LLP (now London Stadium...
Zaha Hadid Ltd appealed against a ruling that its trade mark licence with the Zaha Hadid Foundation, requiring a 6% royalty, was perpetual. The Court of Appeal held the contract was of indefinite duration and terminable by either party on reasonable notice. Facts The case concerned a trade mark licence...
A recovering problem gambler sued Sky Betting and Gaming, alleging its cookies, data processing and direct marketing were unlawful because he had not validly consented. The Court of Appeal held that consent under data protection law is objective, not subjective, and allowed the operator's appeal. Facts The appellants (SBG) operated...
Charedi Jewish and Evangelical Christian school communities challenged the imposition of VAT on private school fees under the Finance Act 2025, claiming it breached Convention rights. The Court of Appeal dismissed the appeals, holding the measure was objectively justified and proportionate. Facts Following a 2024 Labour Party manifesto commitment, the...
Three conjoined appeals concerning men registered as 'father' on birth certificates who were not biological fathers. The Court of Appeal held 'father' in the Children Act 1989 means the genetic father only, so parental responsibility never arises from registration if the registrant is not the biological father. Facts The Court...
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...
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...
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,...
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...
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...
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,...
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...
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...
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...
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...
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...
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...
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...
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...