Wedlake Bell Insights

    • In Trust
    • Jan 8, 2026

    Bone of contention

    Despite them feeling like one of the family, under English law, pets are legally classified as chattels i.e. they are deemed items of property. In the eyes of the law, your beloved dog or cat is therefore treated much like

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    • Article
    • Jan 8, 2026

    New year, new risks: navigating transparency in the Commercial Court

    As the year begins, many private clients are reviewing their affairs and setting resolutions. One area that demands particular attention is dispute management. How disputes are resolved can have lasting consequences, especially now that the English courts are embracing greater

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    • Article
    • Jan 8, 2026

    Personally liable and the liable person – what the courts said in 2025

    Yerbury v Azets Holdings Ltd [2025] EWHC 757 In Yerbury v Azets, the difference between the individual practitioners and their firm came under the microscope. A lender had appointed Law of Property Act receivers from CLB Coopers. The receivers sold

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    • Building Safety Act
    • Jan 6, 2026

    Staged HRB building control approvals – updated guidance

    A staged G2 application can now be made for new Higher Risk Building (HRB) developments — those over seven storeys or 18 metres — where works will be delivered in stages/phases. Each stage is assessed and approved separately by the

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    • Article
    • Dec 23, 2025

    Festive round-up: key UK trade mark developments to watch in 2026

    From the end of the five‑year Brexit transitional period to the discontinuation of series marks, the adoption of the latest Nice Classification, and upcoming UKIPO fee increases, several important developments will shape the trade mark landscape in early 2026. This

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    • Article
    • Dec 18, 2025

    Exploring the stories behind our heritage – podcast series

    During 2025 Clarissa Levi, Wedlake Bell’s Art & Heritage Counsel, and Richard Harwood KC of 39 Essex Chambers were joined by leading voices to discuss the issues that matter. Each episode offers expert insight into the legal, cultural, and economic

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