Edward Fennell’s
LEGAL DIARY
Diary news plus insights, commentary and appointments from the legal world
6 March 2026
Editorial contact: fennell.edward@yahoo.com
SHORT THOUGHT FOR THE WEEK:
MUDDLED MISSILES
No-one should be surprised that the response of our lawyer Prime Minister and former head of the Crown Prosecution Service to events in Iran should be legalistic. Totally in character, his mode of prosecuting this war is by the law book.
But at some point ‘doing it by the book’ runs into real life. Or as Dr Aurel Sari, from the University of Exeter Law School, has put it:
“Though the basic logic of distinguishing between “offensive” and “defensive” action is legally compelling, the practical difficulty with this position is that the United Kingdom must ensure that any support it provides to the United States remains confined to the lawful exercise of self-defence against Iran’s unlawful attacks on regional allies and the United Kingdom itself, without spilling over into supporting the ongoing U.S.-Israeli armed attack on Iran. This distinction is legally essential, but operationally fraught.”
Added to which, as Sun Tzu famously observed, ‘The best form of defence is attack.’
The fact is that the UK is in a moral and materiel muddle over events in Iran. How far the law can help the country muddle-through remains to be seen.
The LegalDiarist
In this edition
+ LEGAL DIARY OF THE WEEK
Doubling Down on Drugs in Dubai
From Russia with Sanctions
Hogan Lovell Helps Kids in Need of Defence
Thackray Williams Backs Women’s Soccer
+ LEGAL COMMENT OF THE WEEK
on War in the Gulf; afghan refugees; the Chancellor’s Spring statement; children’s digital welfare and the dentistry market.
+ APPOINTMENTS OF THE WEEK
Dawson Cornwell LLP and Devonshires
LEGAL DIARY OF THE WEEK
Doubling Down on Drugs in Dubai
Events in the Gulf have brought a different kind of focus on those sun-soaked oases of serene self-indulgence – particularly Dubai. So maybe they are not as insulated from the outside world as had been presented?
Of course, some close-up observers – including notably Radha Stirling, CEO of Detained in Dubai – have been signalling for some time the concealed legal landmines which lie on these beaches of excess. And even this very week she has brought to the attention of anyone bothered enough to notice how easy it is to fall foul of the authorities – and now be in gaol with no immediate sign of release despite missiles raining in overhead.
The case she has in mind is of Antonia Bettridge, a 25 year old British fitness coach from St Helens, who is being held in Dubai over an allegation of possessing drugs with intent to promote/sell. Like many young Brits, Bettridge moved to Dubai to ‘pursue a career in fitness and real estate’. She is described by friends as being very health focused and committed to a ‘clean lifestyle’ and her family say she had no knowledge of any drugs and is contesting the allegation. As Stirling comments, “She is now desperate for bail as missiles fly over Dubai prison’.” Only in that way can she properly start to prepare her defence.
Meanwhile Stirling warns that foreigners can quickly find themselves facing serious criminal allegations in the UAE ‘even where the circumstances are strongly disputed’.
From Russia with Sanctions
As we are talking about individuals who might be facing unjustified charges we must take our hats off to Quillon Law which has just secured the revocation of the designation of Mr John Ormerod, a British national, under the Russia (Sanctions) (EU Exit) Regulations 2019. Indeed, Ormerod enjoys the distinction of being one of the very few UK nationals sanctioned under the Russia Regulations to then be de-listed.
“I am both relieved and delighted that the UK Government has decided to revoke my designation and remove me from the UK Sanctions List,” said Ormerod. ”I am grateful to my legal team and the Foreign Office for their work in bringing this chapter to an end, and I look forward to enjoying my retirement with some peace and stability.
More importantly, my family and I will finally be able to return to living a normal life. They and also my friends have been amazing in their support over the last 10 months and I owe them everything.
To be clear, I wholeheartedly condemn the Russian invasion of Ukraine. I urge others to be watchful, it is easy to be caught up unwittingly in the sanctions regime as I was.”
The Quillon Law team representing Ormerod was led by a pair of Partners Abigail Healey and James Clark, with Managing Associate Jordan Hill, Associate Genevieve Douglas and Paralegal Lucia Cipolat. Quillon Law had instructed Alex Haines of 4 Pump Court.
Hogan Lovell Helps Kids in Need of Defence
The chaotic nature of world affairs is resulting in the UK hosting a growing number of ‘undocumented’ children. Trying to make sense of individuals’ circumstances and judging their likely qualification for registration as a British national has become increasingly complicated. Legal Aid is not available in these cases and private funding is, inevitably, extremely rare.
Hence Hogan Lovells has partnered with LawFairy, a legal intelligence company that automates complex legal and compliance workflows, to develop a structured, natural language immigration decision support system. This will assist KIND UK(Kids in Need of Defense, a leader in the protection of children on the move) in working out a child’s eligibility for registration and will produce clear outputs to support triage and next steps. Central England Law Centre, one of the members of the KIND network in the UK partnering with Hogan Lovells, also collaborated with LawFairy on this initiative.
“We are seeing the exponential rise of use of legal technology in commercial environments but many of these developments are not available for the marginalised communities who are frequently missed out making access to justice even more remote,” said Yasmin Waljee OBE, Partner, Hogan Lovells. “Working with the ingenuity and commitment of LawFairy over many years to perfect a workable, intelligent system which complements the empathetic immigration expertise of Central England Law Centres has been a challenge but also hugely rewarding. Also having the support of our global partner KIND has been incredibly important to allow us to reach into communities and gives us the potential to broaden access further. Above all this is an excellent demonstration of how collaboration for impact works!”
Raj S. Panasar, Founder of LawFairy, added, “We are thrilled to partner with Hogan Lovells and CELC as a member of KIND in the UK on this vital initiative. At LawFairy, we are applying structured, explainable legal intelligence to help organisations deliver better outcomes at scale.”
Thackray Williams Backs Women’s Soccer
In the oft-quoted announcement “Everyone shall have prizes,” made by the Dodo in Alice in Wonderland the implication is that the prizes are meaningless because they are awarded without any discrimination. In reality, though, we now live in a world where “Everything has a prize award” which, in a sense, is more admirable – it means that quality performance can be identified in any form of activity. Hence the Women’s Football Awards have become Europe’s biggest and most influential awards celebrating outstanding achievement in women’s football even if some of these awards have nothing to do with actually kicking a ball. Instead they recognise the individuals, teams and organisations which have ‘Propelled the game forward’. And that includes off the pitch. Hence people who have never shimmied their way into the penalty box nor zinged in a corner can still win a Woman’s Football Award. And you don’t even have to be a woman.
The pleasant consequence for Thackray Williams, however, is that its Sports Sector has been shortlisted for ‘Legal Team of the Year’ in the upcoming Women’s Football Awards. The firm is already well-known in the football community through its partnership with Premier League side Crystal Palace FC but it also supports girls’ and women’s football locally in south east London via AFC Greenwich Borough.
“This is incredible recognition for the legal expertise that we are able to provide for both clubs and athletes, as well as for the commitment of the whole firm in supporting women’s football from the grassroots up,” says Lewis Glasson, the Head of the firm’s Sports Sector,
“When I set up the sector, my aim was to make legal expertise accessible for organisations and athletes at all levels, and no longer the preserve of the elite,” he adds. “To be shortlisted alongside established City law teams shows that we are meeting a real market need in the increasingly professional, and consequently more complex, world of sport.”
The results of the Women’s Football Awards will be announced at a gala evening hosted by the BBC’s Gabby Logan MBE and Sky Sport’s Jamie Carragher on May 7.
LEGAL COMMENT OF THE WEEK
TOPIC: WAR IN THE GULF – IMPACT ON SHIPPING AND INSURANCE
COMMENT BY:Gagan Ranu, partner, Spencer West LLP
“The impact on the shipping industry and global oil and gas markets of the effective closure of the Strait of Hormuz cannot be understated. The Strait is a critical artery for the flow of crude exports from the Gulf accounting for approximately 20% of global supplies, and therefore any disruption would have a significant impact on international markets and global trade. The impact has already been felt as oil and gas prices have surged in the past 48 hours causing global stock markets to tumble.
The impact on the shipping insurance market will be just as stark, not least in light of the express threats of attacks on vessels passing through the Strait. War-risk premiums for tankers operating in or near the Gulf have surged, and a number of major shipping and cargo insurers have already withdrawn coverage altogether thus forcing shipowners to suspend voyages. This will inevitably give rise to a huge surge in legal disputes in relation to coverage, as well as those arising under charterparties, bills of lading, and finance agreements. Wider issues are also likely to arise such as where shipowners simply refuse to proceed to the region, as well as what will happen to the cargo on board vessels that are currently stranded there if the underlying contracts have effectively been frustrated. It would be fair to say that Shipping and International Trade lawyers are likely to be very busy for the foreseeable future.”
TOPIC: THE GOVERNMENT’S DECISION TO BAN WORK VISAS FOR AFGHAN NATIONALS
COMMENT BY: Sacha Wooldridge,Partner and Head of Immigration, Birketts LLP
“While the Home Secretary’s decision to ban work visas for Afghan nationals may today make headlines, the reality of the impact of this change is in fact quite muted. In 2025, only 271 work visas were issued to Afghan nationals who were moving to the UK for the first time (known as ‘Entry Clearance’) this is down from 582 in 2024. This was made up of 142 workers and 129 accompanying dependent family members and accounts for less than 0.1% of the 168,471 work visas issued by the Home Office in 2025. The objective of the change is evidently to target prevention of those individuals subsequently applying for asylum after having arrived under a safe and legal work visa route rather than materially impacting net migration statistics. The impact for business on this occasion is therefore very low; however, this does set a worrying precedent not seen before that the Home Office start to ban visa applications via nationality.
Furthermore, today’s statement confirms that the rule change will be effective 26 March 2026, which may lead to an interim surge in applications from these countries. Today’s statement says ‘the Home Office will end …. skilled worker visas for Afghan nationals’. It does not clarify if this applies only to new applicants or if existing visa holders may be impacted, so this will cause significant concern to the individuals, their families and the business who employ them and should be addressed urgently. The draft rules are expected by the end of this week.”
TOPIC: THE CHANCELLOR’S SPRING STATEMENT
COMMENT BY: Andy Hartwill, Client Insights Lead, Simmons & Simmons
“If Chancellor Reeves had one eye on the forthcoming May local elections, she had both hands tied behind her back by her commitment to only one “fiscal event” a year (in the autumn) and by the unfolding further conflict in the Middle East.
New OBR forecasts showed her comfortably meeting her fiscal rules, but their underlying assumptions may get tested if the conflict becomes prolonged or escalates.
So, while she used her Spring Statement to rehearse recent achievements, she kept dry the new powder she accumulated from better tax receipts and lower debt interest payments.
As she spoke, financial markets were not distracted from their laser focus on events in the Middle East. Ms Reeves may have taken that as a loud endorsement of her performance.”
COMMENT BY: Craig Elder, Partner specialising in public procurement, Browne Jacobson
“As part of its overall growth strategy, the government may require a bolder and more ambitious infrastructure policy – potentially backed by private finance from government.
“To date, the applications in which public-private partnerships (PPPs) may be used – community healthcare and local decarbonisation – remain relatively narrow. It will be interesting to see whether this remains the case.
“Our ageing roads, railways, hospitals, schools are prisons are in clear need of renewal. A tight public purse means private sector investors and skillsets are an option that could be harnessed if we can learn from the lessons of PFI and develop improved models.
“Creating a long-term pipeline of new social infrastructure developments would also ramp up ailing construction activity and boost a stagnant economy.”
COMMENT BY: Rosamond McDowell, Partner, Payne Hicks Beach
“The Spring Statement was notable more for what it didn’t include than what it did. For private clients, there were no immediate headline tax increases or radical reforms, but that shouldn’t be mistaken for a benign landscape.
“Frozen tax thresholds and impending inheritance tax changes mean families are still facing a steadily rising burden through fiscal drag. The absence of new measures offers stability, but it’s a reminder that proactive estate and succession planning is more important than ever. For those who have relied on the availability of business and agricultural property relief, there remains a short planning window to 5 April 2026, and for those with sizeable pensions, which will be brought into the IHT net from next year, a re-think is advisable.”
TOPIC: THE GOVERNMENT’S CONSULTATION ON UK CHILDREN’S DIGITAL WELFARE
COMMENT BY: Jamie Hurworth, Dispute Resolution lawyer and Online Safety Act expert at leading law firm Payne Hicks Beach
“This government consultation is welcome as it is clear the conversation on child online safety needs to move on from the 2023 Online Safety Act, which brought in some protections but left many gaps especially around AI and immersive platforms which still put children at huge risk.
“An outright ban on social media is unlikely to work in practice, though, as it could simply push young people into unregulated spaces and thwart effective age verification. But, it’s encouraging to see ministers finally acknowledge that more needs to be done and are willing to explore a range of smarter, evidence-based options that can hopefully be implemented more rapidly.”
TOPIC: THE GOVERNMENT’S ANNOUNCEMENT THAT COMPANIES WITH 250 OR MORE EMPLOYEES WILL BE ABLE TO PUBLISH AN ACTION PLAN ALONGSIDE THEIR GENDER PAY GAP DATA, OUTLINING STEPS TO REDUCE PAY DISPARITIES AND BETTER SUPPORT WOMEN’S HEALTH NEEDS, INCLUDING MENOPAUSE
COMMENT BY: Jo Mackie, employment partner, Michelmores
“While it is welcome that Labour want to address the equal pay gap that still exists, the proposal is only voluntary, with the aim of making it compulsory next year through legislation. That will be hard to push through, it always is . So while we may applaud the intention the proof of whether this works will be in the numbers who decide to adopt a voluntary scheme, especially in hard economic times.”
TOPIC: THE COMPETITION AND MARKET AUTHORITY’S DECISION TO OPEN A REVIEW INTO THE PRIVATE DENTISTRY MARKET IN THE UK
COMMENT BY: Rebecca Hainsworth, Partner in commercial healthcare, Browne Jacobson
“Access to NHS dental services has become increasingly difficult since the pandemic, driven by significant post-Covid backlogs that have been exacerbated by patients presenting with more complex needs, as well as workforce constraints leading to thousands of dentists retreating from NHS contracts that may be deemed less lucrative than treating private patients.
“With a vast number of consumers therefore pushed towards the private sector, the CMA clearly wants to understand whether they are receiving a fair service in a competitive trading environment.
“It will likely want to understand whether consumers are able to make educated decisions about choosing dentists and receive sufficient information on pricing, as well as whether providers are deploying anti-competitive practices or misleading patients regarding the level of treatment they require.
“This intervention reflects how the government views dentistry as a priority within its focus on improving healthcare. It has made a number of pledges around dentistry, including providing 700,000 extra urgent appointments annually and investing £100m in encouraging dentists to take on NHS work.
“It’s important that dental practices – whether high street businesses or large independent healthcare providers that deliver dental services – engage with this initial fact-finding exercise and are transparent in order to get ahead of any potential formal investigation that could be coming down the track.“
LEGAL SECTOR APPOINTMENTS OF THE WEEK
DAWSON CORNWELL LLP
Russell Bywater has been appointed as the Managing Partner of family law firm Dawson Cornwell LLP where he takes over from Stephen Harker. Bywater intends to continue his client practice alongside his new role, having previously headed the firm’s matrimonial department.
“It is a privilege to take on the role of Managing Partner at Dawson Cornwell,” he said. “ I have big boots to fill and want to extend our thanks to Stephen for his time in this role which has been carried out in an exemplary fashion. The firm has a long-standing reputation for excellence in family law, and I look forward to building on that legacy while supporting our talented team of lawyers in delivering the highest standard of service to our clients.”
Bywater is ranked in both Chambers & Partners and The Legal 500 and is known for his strategic, measured approach to litigation, particularly in cases involving international trusts. Much of his work involves advising on high-value and complex financial remedy proceedings, often involving international elements, trusts, businesses and significant non-matrimonial assets.
DEVONSHIRES
Nicholas Barrows has been appointed by Devonshires as its first Chief Marketing Officer. Joining the firm after eighteen years with Trowers & Hamlins where he was most recently the firm’s Director of Marketing he is actually ‘coming home’ to Devonshires where he had been earlier in his career from 2006 to 2008.
He will now be working with the firm’s senior leadership team and heads of department to promote the firm’s existing business development and marketing teams.He will have responsibility for these departments, with key ambitions including the continuing growth of Devonshires’ corporate and facilities management services.
Commenting on his appointment Barrows said, “I am delighted to be returning to Devonshires. I have been struck by how much the firm has grown and changed in the years since I last worked here, and am excited by the opportunity to consolidate and build on that growth. I very much look forward to working with my new colleagues, not least Duncan Edwards, Charlotte Wilson, and Jude Williamson, to ensure that Devonshires continues to go from strength to strength.”
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fennell.edward@yahoo.com