Hugh Cumber

Defence solicitor jailed for sexually abusing 13-year-old girls: lawgazette.co.uk/news/defence-s…

@BarbaraRich_law We did a different one of these puzzle post games - it’s actually very collaborative and low on rules, so limited scope for arguments. It was fun. Inheritance disputes might be a bit close to home though!

I decided not to buy this for Christmas Day entertainment on the basis that it might either be indistinguishable from work or offer too much scope for annoying one’s nearest and dearest by arguing with the rules

The members of 5 Stone Buildings are delighted to announce that Joss Knight has joined chambers. For more information or to instruct Joss, please contact the clerks on 0207 242 6201 or by email at clerks@5sblaw.com.

All of these points are major reforms in their own right and the scope of the proposed reforms is significant

Reform of the law of undue influence in the context of wills Power to relieve the consequences of gifts to witnesses Abolish the rule that marriage revokes a will MCA 2005 test for capacity (with presumption of capacity)

A lot to digest in the Law Commission’s report on ‘Modernising Wills Law’ and accompanying draft bill. Recommendations for; Dispensing power to deal with formality defects Wills for minors (including under 16 with court approval) Wider rectification powers Electronic Wills 1/2

Huge congratulations to my @5sblaw colleague Ruth Hughes on her appointment to King’s Counsel today! (credit to @BarbaraRich_law for the photo)

Appeal allowed in Hirachand An award under the 1975 Act cannot include directly or indirectly any allowance for a success fee.

Judgment has been handed down this morning in the matter of Hirachand (Appellant) v Hirachand and another (Respondents) UKSC 2022/0015: supremecourt.uk/cases/uksc-202…

More narrowly, the issue is whether a CFA success fee is a debt which can form part of an applicant’s financial needs.

Early Christmas present from the Supreme Court this year. Judgment in Hirachand (whether CFA success fees can form part of an award for reasonable financial provision under the 1975 Act)

… equally important is the amendment to the costs rules with a new CPR r.44.2(5)(e) which requires a court to consider whether a party has failed to comply with such an order or unreasonably failed to engage in ADR when exercising its discretion as to costs. 2/2

From today the Court has express power under the CPR to order parties to engage in ADR, an amendment introduced following the decision in Churchill last year. The headline amendment is to the powers of case management, with a new CPR r.3.1(2)(o) but… 1/2

Judgment today in this successful challenge to a will - looking forward to reading all 125 pages with interest.

Judgment handed down in Bond v Webster [2024] EWHC 1972 (Ch). 5sblaw.com/news/judgment-…

@Joanna__Hardy Congratulations to you and @jamiesusskind

Oh hello, you. Welcome home ❤️

Reminder - Upcoming webinar - Ruth Hughes and Francis Ng will be presenting a webinar on 15th March 2024, titled Contentious Probate Update! for more information please click here 5sblaw.com/events/content…

@briandsloan I had always thought they were just a convenient narrative device (see e.g. Knives Out) - perhaps people who really have one are influenced by the pop culture cliche?

So it seems will readings *do* sometimes happen in real life.

Happy New Year to all of our clients and colleagues!

Interesting sounding webinar from Ruth and Francis in response to Churchill and the departure from Halsey