United Kingdom: Human Rights

Keystone Law provides insights into family law matters, including divorce proceedings, third-party interventions in family disputes, and the impact of executive orders on birthright citizenship for UK parents pursuing surrogacy in the United States. The firm offers guidance on navigating complex family legal situations involving businesses, trusts, and international considerations.

The 2026 update to Keeping children safe in education introduces the most significant changes in years, requiring all schools to review their safeguarding policies and operational practices. Among the most substantive changes is the new requirement for all staff to read Part One in full, with the previously condensed version now withdrawn. The guidance introduces comprehensive new provisions for supporting gender questioning children through a safeguarding lens, establishing clear protocols for social trans

A father's immigration appeal was dismissed after the Court of Appeal found that pending family court proceedings regarding contact with his British daughter did not automatically grant him the right to remain in the UK under Article 8 ECHR. The judgment clarifies when family proceedings take priority over immigration decisions and establishes that immigration status cannot be assumed during ongoing family court cases.

Three years after the Law Commission proposed sweeping changes to surrogacy law in England and Wales, reform remains stalled despite a petition signed by over 113,000 people calling for intended parents to be recognised as legal parents from birth. While MPs acknowledge the current system creates difficulties for families, the government has made clear that surrogacy reform is not a legislative priority, leaving families to navigate a legal framework built on decades-old legislation.

The publication of Donna Ockenden's final report into maternity services at Nottingham University Hospitals NHS Trust has reignited debate about whether a statutory public inquiry into maternity and neonatal services across England is needed. This article examines how such an inquiry could be designed to investigate rigorously while minimizing trauma to affected families, drawing on lessons from the Ockenden review's trauma-informed engagement methodology.

Parliament is set to debate a reintroduced Bill on assisted dying that would allow terminally ill adults in England and Wales with six months or less to live to request assistance to end their own lives. The legislation includes key amendments addressing terminal illness definitions and the appointment of a Voluntary Assisted Dying Commissioner, while an expert group has raised concerns about capacity, consent, and safeguarding provisions.

Immigration law expert Alex Piletska examines the critical distinction between validity and eligibility in UK visa applications, exploring when applications can be deemed invalid by the Home Office and whether such determinations can be remedied. The briefing provides essential guidance for immigration practitioners on navigating validity requirements under Paragraph 34 of the Immigration Rules and best practices when applications are incorrectly invalidated.

Recent reports have reignited debate over whether a public inquiry into Jeffrey Epstein's activities in the UK should take place, following apparently conflicting messages from the Government. Seetal Patel, a solicitor specialising in abuse claims, examines why survivors' concerns must remain at the heart of the debate and argues that transparency, accountability and meaningful action are essential for those seeking answers.

The EHRC's updated Code of Practice for Services, Public Functions and Associations comes into effect on 5 August 2026, incorporating the Supreme Court's ruling that "sex" under the Equality Act 2010...