United Kingdom: Civil Law

Private landowners may unknowingly lose control of their property when members of the public acquire rights of way through continuous use over 20 years, even without the owner's knowledge or consent. This analysis examines the legal mechanisms available to protect against such claims, including the strategic use of section 31(6) statements under the Highways Act 1980, and explores recent Court of Appeal guidance on what constitutes an 'interruption' to public use following the landmark Roxlena Ltd v Rambler

A Technology and Construction Court case examines whether a haulage company can be held vicariously liable for a driver's negligence when delivering chemicals to a water treatment plant, despite the driver being seconded to and embedded within the client's organization for five years. The judgment explores the boundaries of dual vicarious liability and the enforceability of standard road haulage contract terms.

The High Court of England & Wales recently examined the scope of liquidators' powers to request documents from related parties under the Insolvency Act 1986. When liquidators sought an 'everything forever' order requiring a sister company to produce all documents relating to the company in liquidation, the court had to balance the statutory duty to cooperate against the principle of proportionality and reasonable necessity.

Recent court cases reveal how undue influence claims can invalidate wills, examining the burden of proof required and what constitutes coercion when a testator's free will is overborne.

Two recent decisions confirm the courts’ reluctance to interfere with regulators’ powers of publication in the absence of clear and compelling evidence of harm.

A recently reported judgment from the High Court, Kirishani v George Major, provides another example of the different way the law operates in England and Wales for cohabiting couples...

In an order dated 18 December 2025, the Rome Court of Appeal reaffirmed the principle that an appeal brought against a court order warning a non-compliant parent must be declared inadmissible.

On 19 December 2025, the English High Court delivered judgment in a challenge under section 67 of the Arbitration Act 1996 (the "Act"), addressing the tribunal's jurisdiction and the authority of a law firm...

Recent case law demonstrates the powerful role that video recordings can play in will disputes, particularly when challenging claims of lack of knowledge and approval or undue influence. The decision in Patel v O'Sullivan provides fresh guidance on how courts assess contemporaneous video evidence of testators, revealing what makes such recordings compelling and what factors may diminish their probative value.