*/
Mental health – Court of Protection. The Official Solicitor, as G's litigation friend, appealed against a costs order made by the President of the Court of Protection. By that order, the first respondent (ANL) was to pay 30% of G's costs and 30% of the local authority's costs of and incidental to an application made by ANL to be joined as a party to the proceedings. The Court of Appeal, Civil Division, dismissed the appeal. It held, inter alia, that it could not be said that ANL's application or the decision to refuse it had been steps taken outside of the Court of Protection Rules 2007, SI 2007/1744. Accordingly, the President had been required to consider costs in accordance with the Rules. In having done so, he had not exceeded the broad ambit of his discretion such that he had been wrong.
Mental health – Court of Protection. The Official Solicitor, as G's litigation friend, appealed against a costs order made by the President of the Court of Protection. By that order, the first respondent (ANL) was to pay 30% of G's costs and 30% of the local authority's costs of and incidental to an application made by ANL to be joined as a party to the proceedings. The Court of Appeal, Civil Division, dismissed the appeal. It held, inter alia, that it could not be said that ANL's application or the decision to refuse it had been steps taken outside of the Court of Protection Rules 2007, SI 2007/1744. Accordingly, the President had been required to consider costs in accordance with the Rules. In having done so, he had not exceeded the broad ambit of his discretion such that he had been wrong.
The Chair of the Bar reports back
Susie Griffin on the admin that keeps barristers from billable work
Clement Cowley, Partner at The Penny Group, explains how global events can influence the performance of pensions and ISAs, and why taking a long-term approach to investing is often the most effective strategy
Mário Barroso, Head of R&D and Method Development at AlphaBiolabs, discusses what family law professionals need to know about hallucinogens, from the main hallucinogenic drugs encountered in family proceedings, to their effects and the testing options available
Harmony Christian Ministries is the latest charity to benefit from a £500 donation from AlphaBiolabs via the company’s Giving Back initiative
By David Green
At the start of her term, Chair of the Bar 2026 Kirsty Brimelow KC set out a series of priorities for the year ahead. One of those priorities was children in the justice system
As the world becomes more digital, Barbara Vinagre Mota examines international research into the mental health consequences of judges’ exposure to graphic and immersive evidence, highlighting the importance of support systems
In an era of patient-centred care and growing concern over misconduct in medical settings, why do women still lack the right to choose women consultants for examination and treatment? Charles Davey investigates
Reviewed by Daniel Barnett
James McNeill Whistler at Tate Britain until 27 September Rothko in Florence at Palazzo Strozzi until 23 August Reviewed by Stephen Cragg KC
