In conjoined appeals ( 2026 ) EWCA Civ 344 the Court of Appeal rules that the definition of “father “ in Sections 2 & 4 of the Children Act 1989 is confined to the common law definition. Only a child’s genetic or biological father can be regarded in law as the father. No parental responsibility is acquired by an individual registered as “ father “ who does not satisfy that definition.
PROCUREMENT
March 24th, 2026 by James Goudie KC in Decision making and ContractsA WELSH Government publication on 23 March 2026 summarises the responses to its consultation on draft statutory Guidance under the Social Partnership and Public Procurement ( Wales ) Act 2023, and sets out next steps.
ECHR
March 23rd, 2026 by James Goudie KC in Human Rights and Public Sector Equality DutyRe T ( INHERENT JURISDICTION : DEPRIVATION OF LIBERTY ) ( 2026 ) EWCA Civ 307 addresses deprivation of liberty for the purposes of ECHR Article 5, the statutory regime under Children Act 1989 for secure accommodation, and the meaning of “ harm “.
DIRECTORS
March 23rd, 2026 by James Goudie KC in Capital Finance and Companies
Proof that a director’s CONDUCT was, in some non-trivial degree, responsible for the causes of a company becoming insolvent, is NOT a jurisdictional pre-condition to the making of a DISQUALIFICATION ORDER under Section 6 of the Directors Disqualification Act 1986. So held in SoS for Business & Trade v Greensill (2026) EWHC 639 (Ch).
NPPF
March 23rd, 2026 by James Goudie KC in Planning and EnvironmentalThe Law Society on 20 March 2026 has responded to the MHCLG Consultation on a revised version of the NPPF.
INTENTIONAL HOMELESSNESS
March 23rd, 2026 by James Goudie KC in Housing
MUNEMO v CITY OF WOLVERHAMPTON COUNCIL ( 2026 ) EWCA Civ 329 raises important issues about both the interpretation and the application of Section 191 of the HOUSING ACT 1996 on becoming homeless intentionally. The Court of Apeal observes that Section 191 is short and clearly structured, but has been the subject of extensive analysis in the authorities, “ not all of which point in the same direction “, and which the Court of Appeal reviews. The Court refers to “ a welltrodden series of 6 questions “, and answers them from para 22, with respect to the time at which an applicant’s deliberate act or omission must have taken place.
PROTECTION OF LIVESTOCK
March 18th, 2026 by James Goudie KC in Environment, Highways and LeisureThe Dogs ( Protection of Lifestock ) ( Amendment ) Act 2025 has come into force on 18 March 2026. It provides FARM ANIMALS in England and Waleswith stronger protection from dog attacks, including on roads and paths.
BURIALS & CREMATIONS
March 18th, 2026 by James Goudie KC in Land, Goods and ServicesA LAW COMMISSION REPORT, published on 18 March 2026, sets out the findings of its Review of Burial and Cremation Law. It highlights issues as to the fragmented and outdated legal framework.
RESERVED MATTERS
March 18th, 2026 by James Goudie KC in Planning and EnvironmentalThe Court of Appeal in R ( Wildfish ) v Buckinghamshire COUNCIL ( 2026 ) EWCA Civ 283 holds that the LPA had not erred in granting an application for RESERVED MATTERS APPROVAL, concerning an outline planning permission for a residential development, by referencing a related permission, concerning a drainage scheme, not a reserved matter, granted to the developer under Section 73 of TCPA 1990.