England and Wales Case Commentaries

“Exceptional Departure”: When Severe Mental Ill-Health Justifies a Community Order for s.278 Sexual Offences – Commentary on IAG, R. v [2025] EWCA Crim 1087

Date: Jul 9, 2025

“Exceptional Departure”: When Severe Mental Ill-Health Justifies a Community Order for s.278 Sexual Offences – Commentary on IAG, R. v [2025] EWCA Crim 1087 1. Introduction IAG, R. v ([2025] EWCA...

“Ammori v SSHD” — Consolidating Judicial Deference in Interim Relief Applications Against Proscription Orders

Date: Jul 8, 2025

“Ammori v Secretary of State for the Home Department” — Consolidating Judicial Deference in Interim Relief Applications Challenging Terrorism Proscription Orders Introduction In Ammori, R. (On the...

“The Cap-Neutrality Principle” – Court of Appeal Clarifies that Capped-Multiple LFAs Are Not Damages-Based Agreements (Sony v Neill [2025] EWCA Civ 841)

Date: Jul 8, 2025

“The Cap-Neutrality Principle” – Court of Appeal Clarifies that Capped-Multiple LFAs Are Not Damages-Based Agreements Sony Interactive Entertainment Europe Ltd & Anor v Alex Neill Class...

“From ‘Could’ to ‘Must’: Court of Appeal Clarifies the Actual-Exercise Requirement for Site-Provider Break Rights Under Paragraph 31 of the Electronic Communications Code”

Date: Jul 8, 2025

From “Could” to “Must”: Court of Appeal Clarifies the Actual-Exercise Requirement for Site-Provider Break Rights Under Paragraph 31 of the Electronic Communications Code Introduction The Court of...

LZLabs v IBM: Contractual Bars Trump Software-Directive Defences – A High Hurdle for Fact–Heavy TCC Appeals

Date: Jul 8, 2025

LZLabs v IBM: Contractual Bars Trump Software-Directive Defences – A High Hurdle for Fact-Heavy TCC Appeals 1. Introduction LZLabs GmbH & Others v IBM UK Ltd ([2025] EWCA Civ 842) is the Court of...

Ellis v Secretary of State for Justice: Re-Affirming the “Very Essence” Test for Prisoners’ Right to Education and Curbing Rolling Judicial Review

Date: Jul 5, 2025

Ellis v Secretary of State for Justice: Re-Affirming the “Very Essence” Test for Prisoners’ Right to Education and Curbing Rolling Judicial Review 1. Introduction In Ellis, R (On the Application Of)...

Preserving Zambrano Carers’ Entry Rights: Ahmad v SSHD and the Continued Availability of EEA Family Permits for Pre-Transition Applications

Date: Jul 5, 2025

Preserving Zambrano Carers’ Entry Rights: Ahmad v Secretary of State for the Home Department ([2025] EWCA Civ 829) Introduction Ahmad v Secretary of State for the Home Department consolidates two...

Re HMP (CA): Defining the Outer Limits of the Open-Justice Principle in Post-Care Proceedings

Date: Jul 5, 2025

Re HMP (CA): Defining the Outer Limits of the Open-Justice Principle in Post-Care Proceedings Introduction Re HMP ([2025] EWCA Civ 824) confronted the perennial tension between the press’ pursuit of...

Reaffirming the Limits of Parity: Budhia v R and the “Totality Adjustment” for Co-Defendants Already Serving Sentences

Date: Jul 5, 2025

Reaffirming the Limits of Parity: Budhia v R ([2025] EWCA Crim 818) and the “Totality Adjustment” for Co-Defendants Already Serving Sentences Introduction Budhia v R constitutes a significant Court...

The Essential-vs-Desirable Test for Sibling Contact Orders: Commentary on Re S (Placement Order Contact) [2025] EWCA Civ 823

Date: Jul 5, 2025

The Essential-vs-Desirable Test for Sibling Contact Orders: Commentary on Re S (Placement Order Contact) [2025] EWCA Civ 823 Introduction Re S (Placement Order Contact) is the Court of Appeal’s most...

Saipem SPA & Ors v Petrofac Ltd & Anor – Market-Tested Fairness as a Pre-Condition for New-Money Rewards under Part 26A

Date: Jul 5, 2025

Saipem SPA & Ors v Petrofac Ltd & Anor Market-Tested Fairness as a Pre-Condition for New-Money Rewards under Part 26A Introduction This Court of Appeal decision ([2025] EWCA Civ 821) arises from an...

“Smith Clarification” – Proper Structuring of Post-Release Driving Disqualifications and the Totality Principle

Date: Jul 5, 2025

“Smith Clarification” – Proper Structuring of Post-Release Driving Disqualifications and the Totality Principle Introduction In Smith, R. v [2025] EWCA Crim 978 the Court of Appeal (Criminal...

R v Pearl: The Identifiable-Risk Benchmark for Tailoring Sexual Harm Prevention Orders

Date: Jul 5, 2025

R v Pearl: The Identifiable-Risk Benchmark for Tailoring Sexual Harm Prevention Orders 1. Introduction The Court of Appeal’s decision in Pearl, R v ([2025] EWCA Crim 994) revisits the principles...

Elezi ([2025] EWCA Crim 964): The “Incommensurability Principle” in Sentence Appeals for Kidnap and False Imprisonment

Date: Jul 5, 2025

Elezi ([2025] EWCA Crim 964): Re-affirming the “Incommensurability Principle” in Sentence Appeals for Kidnap and False Imprisonment 1. Introduction In R v Elezi ([2025] EWCA Crim 964) the Court of...

From “Snapshot Habitability” to “Fundamental Characteristics”: The Court of Appeal’s Definitive Test for SDLT Residential Status

Date: Jul 4, 2025

From “Snapshot Habitability” to “Fundamental Characteristics”: The Court of Appeal’s Definitive Test for SDLT Residential Status 1. Introduction Mudan & Anor v Revenue and Customs ([2025] EWCA Civ...

Beyond Central Management and Control: Court of Appeal Clarifies “Place of Effective Management” as an Autonomous Tie-Breaker for Dual-Resident Trusts

Date: Jul 4, 2025

Beyond Central Management and Control: Court of Appeal Clarifies “Place of Effective Management” as an Autonomous Tie-Breaker for Dual-Resident Trusts 1. Introduction In Haworth & Ors v Commissioners...

“Any Person” May Request a Highway Crossover – The New Rule in Anwar v London Borough of Ealing Council [2025] EWCA Civ 813

Date: Jul 4, 2025

“Any Person” May Request a Highway Crossover – The New Rule in Anwar v London Borough of Ealing Council [2025] EWCA Civ 813 Introduction The Court of Appeal’s decision in Anwar v London Borough of...

White v 29 Buckland Crescent MCL: Settlement-Based Release Bars Subsequent Forfeiture Claims

Date: Jul 4, 2025

White v 29 Buckland Crescent Management Company Ltd ([2025] EWCA Civ 814) New Principle: Where a settlement agreement contains a broad mutual release and a narrowly drafted carve-out, the landlord is...

“Shiels Clarification”: Balancing Consecutive Sentences and the Principle of Totality in Domestic Coercive-Control Cases

Date: Jul 4, 2025

“Shiels Clarification”: Balancing Consecutive Sentences and the Principle of Totality in Domestic Coercive-Control Cases Introduction The Court of Appeal’s decision in Shiels, R. v ([2025] EWCA Crim...

Threshold for Leaving Poor-Quality CCTV Identification to the Jury Where Discernible Features and Supporting Circumstantial Evidence Exist

Date: Jul 4, 2025

Threshold for Leaving Poor-Quality CCTV Identification to the Jury Where Discernible Features and Supporting Circumstantial Evidence Exist 1) Introduction In R v Weatherley [2025] EWCA Crim 1878, the...