England and Wales Case Commentaries

From Secret Soundings to Transparent Consultation: The New Duties of the Judicial Appointments Commission after Thomas v JAC

Date: Jul 18, 2025

From Secret Soundings to Transparent Consultation: The New Duties of the Judicial Appointments Commission after Thomas v Judicial Appointments Commission 1. Introduction The Court of Appeal’s...

“Scope-and-Coverage as a Jurisdictional Gateway” – The New Rule from Republic of Korea v Elliott Associates LP [2025] EWCA Civ 905

Date: Jul 18, 2025

“Scope-and-Coverage as a Jurisdictional Gateway” – The New Rule from Republic of Korea v Elliott Associates LP [2025] EWCA Civ 905 1. Introduction The England and Wales Court of Appeal has delivered...

The Ridgewell Principle Consolidated: Fresh Evidence of Contemporaneous Police Criminality and Racially-Motivated Misconduct Renders Convictions Unsafe — Commentary on R v Campbell [2025] EWCA Crim 1146

Date: Jul 18, 2025

The Ridgewell Principle Consolidated: Fresh Evidence of Contemporaneous Police Criminality and Racially-Motivated Misconduct Renders Convictions Unsafe Introduction R v Campbell [2025] EWCA Crim 1146...

CCRC References, Absent Appellants, and Fresh Evidence of Police Corruption: Clarifications from De Souza [2025] EWCA Crim 1145

Date: Jul 18, 2025

CCRC References, Absent Appellants, and Fresh Evidence of Police Corruption: Clarifications from De Souza [2025] EWCA Crim 1145 Introduction De Souza, R. v ([2025] EWCA Crim 1145) is a further...

Generics (UK) Ltd & Ors v AstraZeneca AB – Court of Appeal Confirms “Ab Initio Plausibility” and Technical-Contribution Test for Selected Compounds

Date: Jul 17, 2025

Generics (UK) Ltd & Ors v AstraZeneca AB  ([2025] EWCA Civ 903) Court of Appeal Confirms the “Ab Initio Plausibility” Standard and Requires a Distinct Technical Contribution for Selections from Prior...

From “Some Degree” to “Global Balance”: Court of Appeal Redefines the Test for Habitual Residence — Commentary on Re F (A Child) (Habitual Residence) [2025] EWCA Civ 911

Date: Jul 17, 2025

From “Some Degree” to “Global Balance”: Court of Appeal Redefines the Test for Habitual Residence Commentary on Re F (A Child) (Habitual Residence) [2025] EWCA Civ 911 Introduction The judgment in Re...

Prosper v R ([2025] EWCA Crim 1111): The Court of Appeal Defines the “Enhanced Exceptionality” Threshold for Whole-Life Orders on 18- to 20-Year-Old Offenders

Date: Jul 17, 2025

Prosper v R ([2025] EWCA Crim 1111): The Court of Appeal Defines the “Enhanced Exceptionality” Threshold for Whole-Life Orders on 18- to 20-Year-Old Offenders 1. Introduction Prosper v R is the first...

R v YAW [2025] EWCA Crim 1143: Proper Evidential Basis, Not Mere Possibility — Clarifying the s.100 CJA 2003 Threshold and Appellate Deference on Alleged Prior False Complaints

Date: Jul 17, 2025

R v YAW [2025] EWCA Crim 1143: Proper Evidential Basis, Not Mere Possibility — Clarifying the s.100 CJA 2003 Threshold and Appellate Deference on Alleged Prior False Complaints Introduction In R v...

Desai v Wood – No Implied or Constructive Trust over Liability Insurance Proceeds Absent Express Agreement or Segregation

Date: Jul 16, 2025

Desai & Anor v Wood & Anor ([2025] EWCA Civ 906) “No Implied or Constructive Trust over Liability Insurance Proceeds Absent Express Agreement or Segregation” 1. Introduction This Court of Appeal...

Relevance-Linked Admissibility of Autism Evidence and Limits on Mid‑Trial Adjournments: R v Smilginis [2025] EWCA Crim 1261

Date: Jul 16, 2025

Relevance-Linked Admissibility of Autism Evidence and Limits on Mid‑Trial Adjournments: R v Smilginis [2025] EWCA Crim 1261 Introduction This commentary examines the Court of Appeal’s decision in R v...

MU v Secretary of State for the Home Department: Mandatory Assessment of State Protection & Internal Relocation in Article 3 ECHR Deportation Appeals

Date: Jul 16, 2025

MU v Secretary of State for the Home Department: Mandatory Assessment of State Protection & Internal Relocation in Article 3 ECHR Deportation Appeals Introduction The Court of Appeal’s decision in MU...

Stevens v R – Correcting Confiscation Orders when Defined-Benefit Pensions Have No Market Value: Fairness over Finality

Date: Jul 16, 2025

Stevens v R – Correcting Confiscation Orders when Defined-Benefit Pensions Have No Market Value: Fairness over Finality 1. Introduction In Stevens, R. v ([2025] EWCA Crim 1123) the Court of Appeal...

Todd v Rex ([2025] EWCA Crim 883): Re-affirming the “Relevant Similarity & Temporal Nexus” Test under s.41(3)(c) YJCEA 1999

Date: Jul 15, 2025

Todd v Rex ([2025] EWCA Crim 883): Re-affirming the “Relevant Similarity & Temporal Nexus” Test under s.41(3)(c) Youth Justice and Criminal Evidence Act 1999 1. Introduction Court of Appeal (Criminal...

The Tallentire Principle: Judicial Comment on a Defendant’s Failure to Call a Witness

Date: Jul 15, 2025

The Tallentire Principle: Judicial Comment on a Defendant’s Failure to Call a Witness Introduction Tallentire & Anor v Rex ([2025] EWCA Crim 885) presented the Court of Appeal (Criminal Division)...

Integrated Proportionality & Domestic-Abuse Risk in International Relocation – Comment on O (Domestic Abuse: International Relocation) [2025] EWCA Civ 888

Date: Jul 15, 2025

Integrated Proportionality & Domestic-Abuse Risk in International Relocation A Commentary on O (Domestic Abuse: International Relocation) [2025] EWCA Civ 888 1. Introduction The Court of Appeal’s...

Phones 4U v EE & Ors – The “Holistic Review” Standard for Delayed Judgments and Adverse-Inference Requests

Date: Jul 15, 2025

Phones 4U v EE & Others ([2025] EWCA Civ 869) The Court of Appeal’s “Holistic Review” Standard for Delayed Judgments and the Limits of Adverse-Inference Doctrine 1. Introduction This appeal arose...

“From Worldwide to Domestic” – Court of Appeal Clarifies Partial Continuation of Freezing Orders and the Priority of Non-Proprietary Assets for Legal Funding (Gable Insurance AG v Dewsall & Ors, [2025] EWCA Civ 884)

Date: Jul 15, 2025

“From Worldwide to Domestic” – Court of Appeal Clarifies Partial Continuation of Freezing Orders and the Priority of Non-Proprietary Assets for Legal Funding (Gable Insurance AG v Dewsall & Ors,...

No Care Order Without a Live s.31A Plan – Commentary on A & Ors (Care Orders at Home) [2025] EWCA Civ 901

Date: Jul 15, 2025

No Care Order Without a Live s.31A Plan Commentary on A & Ors (Care Orders at Home) [2025] EWCA Civ 901 1. Introduction The Court of Appeal’s decision in A & Ors (Care Orders at Home) rewinds a...

Intra-Conspiracy Supplies Must Run Concurrently – A Commentary on Takawira & Williams v R [2025] EWCA Crim 1037

Date: Jul 12, 2025

Intra-Conspiracy Supplies Must Run Concurrently – A Commentary on Takawira & Williams v R [2025] EWCA Crim 1037 1. Introduction The Court of Appeal (Criminal Division) in Takawira & Williams v R has...

“Restocking Without Conviction” – Wickford v Secretary of State [2025] EWCA Civ 882: A Court of Appeal Blueprint for (i) Post-Prosecution Restocking Notices and (ii) When a Public-Law Error is Immaterial

Date: Jul 11, 2025

“Restocking Without Conviction” – Wickford v Secretary of State for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs [2025] EWCA Civ 882 Introduction The Court of Appeal’s judgment in Wickford Development Company...