Edward Fennell’s LEGAL DIARY
Diary news plus insights, commentary and appointments from the legal world
27 February 2026
Editorial contact: fennell.edward@yahoo.com
SHORT THOUGHT FOR THE WEEK:
CROSS IN THE BOX?
There will be alarm bells blaring across the political Establishment over the weekend at the result of yesterday’s by-election.
As well as the voting pattern, however, there will be serious concerns for the first time about the arrival of illegal ‘family voting’ in the booths and what this says about the attitude of the local electorate to one of the few remaining ‘sacred’ rituals in our society.
Family voting on such a scale is unprecedented. How far it actually impacted on the result is impossible to judge. But if individuals have been subject to significant coercion during yesterday’s voting exercise then the constituency of Gorton and Denton has nothing to be proud of in what happened yesterday.
The LegalDiarist
In this edition
+ LEGAL DIARY OF THE WEEK
Quinn Emanuel Earns Merit for Backing Ukraine
International Criminal Law – The Latest
Love to Have a Visa? Probably not
Animals Taking Over the Courts?
+ CONTRIBUTED ARTICLE OF THE WEEK
HOW TO GET SAFE WITH AI by Dr. Ilia Kolochenko
+ LEGAL COMMENT OF THE WEEK
on UK sanctions against Russia, tariffs in the USA, Crown Court sitting days, change at the SFO, London confidence falling, crisis in NHS maternity services, the attack on Ian Huntley.
+ APPOINTMENT OF THE WEEK
Kingsley Napley
LEGAL DIARY OF THE WEEK
Quinn Emanuel Earns Merit for Backing Ukraine
It could hardly be more notable that in this week, when we are marking thefourth anniversary of Ukraine’s resistance to the Russian invasion of 2022, Julianne Hughes-Jennett,a partner in Quinn Emanuel’s London office, has been awarded the Order of Merit by Volodymyr Zelenskyy the President of Ukraine in appreciation ofher work advising Ukraine pro bonoon its interstate case against Russia before the European Court of Human Rights (ECHR).
As we have already seen on our TV screens this week, Russia pays scant attnetion to the human rights of its own soldiers so it is no great surprise that other people’s human rights are of little regard to the Putin regime.
“Thank you to all of those who continue to support us and Ukraine in these efforts towards accountability for Russia’s war of aggression.” said Hughes-Jennett. “This honour is a testament to all the hard work and contributions by lawyers across Quinn Emanuel. I would in particular like to thank London associates Marjun Parcasio, Graham Evans, and Ben Evans and Lauren Danckwerts (Sydney) and former associate, James Campbell (NY/Sydney).”
In July 2025, the Grand Chamber of the ECHR handed down its judgment in favour of Ukraine, on admissibility and merits. Quinn Emanuel continues to work on the next phase of the proceedings which concerns damages.
The Ukrainian Ministry of Justice said. “Our team warmly congratulates you on being awarded the Order of Merit by the President of Ukraine — in recognition of your significant personal contribution to strengthening interstate cooperation and supporting the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Ukraine. This honour is a true reflection of your dedication and invaluable support. Please accept our most sincere congratulations.”
Also given awards for their work on the case were Tim Otty and Lord Guglielmo Verdirame, the two KC’s instructed by Quinn Emanuel.
Slava Ukraini!
International Criminal Law – The Latest
All the tickets might have gone by the time you read this but even so it is worth knowing that on Thursday next Temple Garden Chambers and the Commission for International Justice and Accountability (CIJA) are jointly hosting an evening panel discussion on ‘The Future of International Criminal Law in a Changing World’.
When one observes what has been taking place in Mexico earlier this week the full, gory nature of ‘International Criminal Law’ suddenly takes on an additional hue. While the USA was, presumabkly, the principal market for the drugs distributed by the Mexican gangs who knows by what connections some might have trickled thorugh to the streets of Liverpool or London. Meanwhile as the organizers point out recent conflicts and shifting geopolitical realities are testing the foundations of the international justice system thereby “raising urgent questions about accountability, enforcement, and what the future holds for international justice.”
To speculate on these matters will be a top notch panel including
Sir Howard Morrison KCMG CBE KC — Former Judge, International Criminal Court and ICTY; President of the ICC Appeals Division; currently UK adviser on war crimes to Ukraine
Nerma Jelacic — Director, CIJA; former Head of Communications, International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia
Rodney Dixon KC — Barrister, Temple Garden Chambers; Co-author of Archbold International; representing states and victims in landmark ICC and ICJ cases
Andrew Cayley CMG KC — Barrister, Temple Garden Chambers; former ICC Principal Trial Lawyer and International Chief Prosecutor of the Khmer Rouge Tribunal, Cambodia
Chaired by Rhys Davies, Barrister, Temple Garden Chambers — international criminal and human rights law specialist.
To seek a place in the audience register https://tally.so/r/Y5WMMW
Love to Have a Visa? Probably not
Brexit is having a devastating impact on the family lives of couples of mixed British and EU nationalities according to the Brexit Couples project whose report was presented in Parliament earlier this week.
The research was led by Katharine Charsley, Professor of Migration Studies at the University of Bristol and Helena Wray, Professor of Migration Law at the University of Exeter and will do nothing to encourage cross-channnel romance.
The problem lies in the application after Brexit of the UK’s family migration rules to UK-EU couples – with the outcome being ‘family separation and trauma’. This was due to the complexity of navigating the partner visa system, and the costs, which total at least £12,000 over five years or ‘often more’.
Not surprising then that, “some couples considered leaving or did leave the UK,” according to Professor Charsley. “The high minimum income threshold, cost and complexity mean that many couples are unable to apply and face permanent separation or exile,”
Overall the process of applying for a partner visa was described as ‘arduous, stressful and draining’ added to which it must be repeated every 2.5 years until indefinite leave to remain is obtained after a minimum of five years.
Professor Wray said: “Thousands of UK-EU couples in the UK must now navigate the UK’s partner migration rules, which are among the most restrictive in the world. Our participants did not expect it to be so difficult to live together in the UK. They told us they were shocked by the impact, which was a consequence of Brexit and the recategorization of EU citizens as migrants.”
The report calls for policy change to:
- Lower minimum income and simplify evidence requirements
- Reduce costs
- Make the application process quicker and easier
- Increase the visa period from 2.5 to 5 years.
Whether that has much chance of success given current political priorities looks a little uncertain.
Animals Taking Over the Courts?
Now here is is something you don’t stumble across every week – a new book on animal law.
Like most things peculiarly successful these days it comes from Canada having been written by V. Victoria Shroff, KC, Canada’s first and only animal law lawyer appointed King’s Counsel. She is an Associate Fellow of the UK’s Oxford Centre for Animal Ethics and has 25years of experience working in this unusual field. And as as British Columbia’s longest-serving animal law practitioner Shroff is recognized as a national leader in the field.
So under the title Canadian Animal Law — Marking a new era in Canadian Animal Law her formidable new second edition of the work is now published by LexisNexis Canada. Aimed at legal professionals, academics, students, policymakers, and animal advocates the book is also likely to have relevance to those interested in companion, wild, and farmed animal issues. And to mark the event Shroff will be part of a panel on Tuesday next (March 3) at the University of Victoria, where she will appear alongside British Columbia’s Attorney General to discuss evolving issues in animal law, including pet custody and family law reform.
Featuring In-depth commentary and analysis across mainstream legal areas including family law, criminal law, housing, wills and estates, environmental law, and professional liability Shroff also includes real-life case examples and case law highlighting intersectional perspectives and practical implications. Dedicated chapters addressing international animal law, wildlife law, and the roles of animals in research and science complete the package.
Adding weight to the launch the Canadian Lawyer recently published an article by Shroff in which she reflects on the significant progress of animal law over the past 25 years—and the work still to be done.
CONTRIBUTED ARTICLE OF THE WEEK
HOW TO GET SAFE WITH AI by Dr. Ilia Kolochenko
Whilst most law firms are increasingly concerned about safe and compliant deployment of various AI-powered tools and legal software, it is just the tip of the iceberg. Most online and SaaS services, including social networks, document sharing platforms, office-related applications, online meeting tools and calendars, now actively collect users’ data to train their own AI models, sell it to AI vendors, or both. Therefore, when you have a video call with your client, make sure that you carefully read the vendor’s terms of service and privacy policy, otherwise, transcripts of your privileged information may be used to train an LLM unbeknownst to you.
Similarly, when you contact a client or colleague on a social network, make sure that your privacy settings restrict the social network from using your data for AI training purposes. Finally, ask your IT department to review all traditional software used in your office – from Adobe and Zoom to Microsoft Office – for enabled AI features, some of which may be activated in just one click or even silently enabled by default.
As to the special legal software that is powered by AI, following best practices is still crucial. First, ask your vendor where they take training data and do not accept evasive or overbroad answers. If a vendor cannot tell you this in a simple and transparent manner, there is a high risk that your data may be used in an unpredictable way, to put it mildly. Second, ask what they do with any input received from your side, whether it is documents, prompts to chatbots, or images. If there is no clearly defined and strict no-use-of-client-data policy, you would be better off staying away from such a vendor.
There is a narrow exception to this rule when an AI model is deployed internally, and your own data is utilized to train or finetune only your own AI model. But always double-check who will own the finetuned model and what ownership rights (if any) the vendor will have. Finally, implementing an AI governance framework, such as ISO 42001, is virtually indispensable for large law firms (250+ attorneys).
Smaller law firms may implement the most crucial parts of the framework, while paying attention to continuous improvement of their internal policies, procedures and processes relating to the use of AI in legal practice. In conclusion, while AI brings some disruption to certain legal processes, you can still manage it using time-tested tools and techniques.
Dr. Ilia Kolochenko, Attorney-at-Law, is the CEO at ImmuniWeb
LEGAL COMMENT OF THE WEEK
TOPIC: The UK’s latest sanctions package issued this week against Russia which imposes nearly 300 new sanctions
COMMENT BY: Robert Dalling, Partner, Jenner & Block LLP
“With the new raft of Russian designations announced today, the UK Government continues to target Russian oil exports, particularly entities operating within the so-called ‘shadow fleet’, along with companies in the defence sector, and a number of banks. The emphasis is very much on asset freeze measures, as opposed to further import/export regulations or sector-based restrictions, which can have a more punitive impact on western companies. Also of note, the asset freezes are largely directed against entities, with only a handful of individuals on the list.”
TOPIC: The US Supreme Court’s ruling that the recent sweeping tariffs are illegal
COMMENT BY: Basil Woodd-Walker, Disputes and Investigations Partner, Simmons & Simmons
“Most commentators had expected the Supreme Court to strike down Trump’s IEEPA tariffs. But President Trump has made it clear that he is not going to abandon his international trade policy, and will find other ways to implement it.
The US Administration may pivot to other tariff regimes or trade barriers to replace the lost income from the IEEPA tariffs.
The lesson for UK and European businesses is clear: a new world order is unfolding, with high levels of uncertainty about the future direction of U.S. trade policy and the international rule of law.
It underscores the need continuously to test and adapt business models to those shifts, diversifying supply chains and onshoring where possible.”
TOPIC: The proposal to increase the number of Crown Court sitting days
COMMENT BY: David Spencer, Head of Crime and Justice, Policy Exchange
“The increase in Crown Court sitting days announced by the Government is welcome but will ultimately prove insufficient. That the backlog will remain at current levels over the coming years shows much more must be done. As Policy Exchange has previously recommended prioritising investment in the wider criminal justice system over other policy areas is necessary. And ultimately the only way the backlog will be solved is by substantially increasing the number of prison places – something the prison reform industrial complex continues to be resistant to.”
COMMENT BY: Louise Hodges, Partner at Kingsley Napley and Chair, Corporate Crime & Corruption Committee, City of London Law Societ
“We welcome the decision to fund unlimited sitting days in the Crown Court. Removing the cap has long been recognised as an essential step in addressing the backlog and enabling the system to operate at full capacity. However, the proposals to curb jury trials raise significant constitutional concerns. Trial by jury is a cornerstone of the criminal justice system and a central expression of public participation in the administration of justice.”
TOPIC: The appointment of Graham McNulty as Interim Director at the SFO after the departure of Nick Ephgrave QPM
Comment by: Caroline Black, White Collar Crime consultant, Gherson Solicitors LLP
“Following the shock departure of Nick Ephgrave, it is notable that his replacement as Director of the SFO is a man made in his image – a former police officer (rather than a lawyer). If Mr McNulty can bring similar levels of action orientated investigation and sound leadership skills as his predecessor, the organisation will be in good hands.
Certainly, his prior role overseeing the implementation of the SFO’s first case management system, and as lead on AI and technical innovation will give him first-hand knowledge of the key disclosure challenges which have continued to dog the organisation for years, most recently leading to the collapse of the London Mining Case.”
TOPIC: The Saltus Wealth Index Report [https://tinyurl.com/3tacppny] suggests that confidence in London as Europe’s financial capital is faltering.
COMMENT BY: Robert Brodrick, Private Client Partner, Payne Hicks Beach
‘“It is particularly worrying that globally mobile investors are beginning to question London’s future as Europe’s financial capital, and I hope that the Chancellor will use the Spring Statement on 3 March as an opportunity to restore certainty and confidence by announcing measures to attract globally mobile investors back to the UK.”
TOPIC: Systemic failures in the care of maternity services in the NHS
COMMENT BY: Sonya Friend, Clinical Negligence lawyer, Freeths
“Sadly, Baroness Amos’ initial findings come as no surprise as we continue to work with families who have been let down in their maternity care. We hear time and again how parents are not being listened to when they are reporting concerns and these are not acted upon.
“Clients report to us that they have found themselves in situations where the midwife and the obstetrician are at odds on what needs doing and this atmosphere is picked up by parents often in cases where urgent treatment is required and being waited on. Despite numerous reports over the years, the same issues do keep arising which suggest a failure to implement this important learning.”
TOPIC: Yesterday’s prison attack attack on Ian Huntley at HMP Frankland
COMMENT BY: Dary Makoona, Prison Law solicitor, Reeds LLP
“This is a serious issue as this assault occurred at HMP Frankland which one of the highest security Category A prison. Prisons are inherently unsafe as most prisoners are convicted of violent offences.
However, prison violence is also closely linked to overcrowding and limited staff who are often unexperienced. From June 2024 to June 2025, there were 401 deaths in prison custody, an increase of 30% from 308 deaths in the previous year. From March 2024 to March 2025, there were 30,846 assaults which increased by 9% from the previous year.
The new Government measures of reducing overcrowding and the new earned progression model will ease overcrowding. However, more people will be released earlier who may not have dealt with their offending behaviour. They could potentially not only be a danger to each other in custody, but also pose a danger to the public.
The Criminal Justice system, including prisons are desperately underfunded, under resourced and need overhauling”
LEGAL SECTOR APPOINTMENTS OF THE WEEK
KINGSLEY NAPLEY
Silvia Devecchi has joined Kingsley Napley as a partner in its Family & Divorce practice to provide specialist advice to its Italian and international clients. Having previously worked at Vardags (as a Partner and Head of the Cambridge office)and more recently at Mishcon de Reya she has significant experience navigating the implications of corporate structures and trusts in matrimonial proceedings. She frequently acts in disputes involving assets across multiple jurisdictions.
Devecchi is a native Italian speaker, and proficient in Spanish and French, and has a strong track record of navigating the interplay between English law and foreign legal systems. She is a Recommended Family Lawyer in Spears’ 500 and has been ranked as a Leading Individual in the Legal 500 since 2021. She is a member of Resolution and the British Italian Law Association.
“I am thrilled to be joining the highly respected Kingsley Napley Family team with a focus on supporting international families especially those with European connections and interests,” says Devecchi. “Post-Brexit, cross-border disputes involving European parties and assets can be trickier to navigate so it is important to be familiar with the challenges involved and have experience of achieving constructive solutions for clients and their families.”
We hope that you’ve been interested or amused by something in this week’s LEGAL DIARY. If so do send on to colleagues.
And please continue sending your ‘Diary-type’ stories, insights legal comment and appointments to
fennell.edward@yahoo.com