Legal Director - Government and Public Sector

Track allocation in housing disrepair claims

A recent case provides valuable guidance on the proper approach to track allocation in housing disrepair cases and highlights the importance of following established procedural frameworks, writes Tosin Onaola.

February 19, 2026

Track allocation in housing disrepair claims

Withdrawing applications for care orders

Phoebe Duterloo looks at the lessons from a recent Family Court judgment following a local authority’s application to withdraw care proceedings.

February 19, 2026

Withdrawing applications for care orders

Appropriate professional boundaries for teachers

Should a teacher be banned for telling a parent their child was being singled out by other staff? Alexandra Addington considers a recent professional conduct case.

February 19, 2026

Appropriate professional boundaries for teachers

Children under 16 and deprivation of liberty

Ms Justice Henke as Lead Judge for the National Deprivation of Liberty List has recently handed down two informative judgments in relation to the scope of DoLs restrictions for children under 16, which seek to clarify some of the thorny and conflicting case law which has come…

February 18, 2026

Children under 16 and deprivation of liberty

A Welsh white leopard?

Alex Ruck Keene KC (Hon) looks at a recent case where litigation capacity in the absence of subject-matter capacity was revisited.

February 18, 2026

A Welsh white leopard?

Conversion to an ‘empty’ MAT

Gerry Morrison considers the legal, governance and practical implications of Franklin Sixth Form College’s conversion to an ‘empty’ Multi-Academy Trust, and what this pioneering model may signal for post-16 education provision across the UK.

February 18, 2026

Conversion to an ‘empty’ MAT

Obvious risks: the beautiful game

The High Court recently rejected an appeal over an injury sustained by the claimant when climbing over a perimeter fence to retrieve a football, finding that the school which owned the premises owed the appellant “no duty” under the Occupiers Liability Act 1957. Jasmine Murphy…

February 18, 2026

Obvious risks: the beautiful game

Development, flood risk and planning judgment

Rohini Vekaria considers what the High Court decision in Gladman and recent NPPF/PPG amendments mean in practice.

February 18, 2026

Development, flood risk and planning judgment

Timed out?

Will the Planning and Infrastructure Act 2025 help limit challenges aimed at timing out permissions? Katie Scuoler considers the key measures.

February 18, 2026

Timed out?

Heat Network Zoning: What the Government’s 2026 Response Means for Local Authorities

Tom Knox analyses the government's reply to the consultation on heat network zoning and shares the main takeaways for the impact it will have.

February 18, 2026

Heat Network Zoning: What the Government’s 2026 Response Means for Local Authorities

A National Security Assessment: Biodiversity Loss and Ecosystem Collapse – Implications for Infrastructure and Energy

Bridget Newman talks readers through the recent National Security Assessment on Global Biodiversity Loss, Ecosystem Collapse and National Security, explaining what it means for infrastructure, energy and long-term investment planning.

February 18, 2026

A National Security Assessment: Biodiversity Loss and Ecosystem Collapse – Implications for Infrastructure and Energy