The Master of the Rolls, Sir Geoffrey Vos has delivered a speech at the Human Rights, Algorithmic Justice and Global AI Policy Conference at Durham University, addressing the potential need to amend the European Convention on Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms (ECHR) to protect human rights in the age of advanced AI. Vos highlighted the evolving acceptance of technology in society and questioned whether machines should make decisions traditionally made by humans, such as in judicial contexts. He noted the EU's AI Act, which classifies AI systems used in judicial decision-making as ‘High Risk AI systems’ and contrasted this with the more accepting stance of countries like China. Vos raised three key issues: the distinction between judicial and other decision-making; the difference between judicial decision-making and legal advice; and the rights needed to ensure just and fair decision-making in addition to Article 6 of the ECHR. He argued that judicial decisions are unique as they are the final recourse for individuals and businesses and expressed scepticism about AI being considered an ‘independent and impartial tribunal’ under Article 6. Vos concluded by emphasising the need for ongoing debate on the appropriate use of AI in judicial decision-making and the protection of human rights in this context.

The Master of the Rolls, Sir Geoffrey Vos, has delivered a speech at the LawtechUK conference on three new UK Jurisdiction Taskforce (UKJT) projects. This comes as the Minister of State in the Ministry of Justice (MoJ) commits £1.5m funding to LawtechUK, to support legal technology development and adoption. Vos highlighted the progress made by LawtechUK and UKJT since their inception and emphasised the need to support UK initiatives in AI and digital trading to enhance legal services and compete with the US. He reviewed UKJT's past legal statements on cryptoassets, digital securities and digital assets in insolvency. He introduced three new projects that the UKJT is undertaking to address emerging challenges in the digital and AI landscapes: (1) 'control' for third category digital assets, following the Law Commission on this; (2) liability for harms caused by AI – the UKJT will release a legal statement on this and will consider if statutory intervention is required; (3) formation of International Jurisdiction Task force to consider common ground on approaches to digital assets and digital trading in the main private law jurisdictions around the world. Vos also considered how AI will transform the legal sector, including its impact on the Online Procedure Rules Committee and the Digital Justice System.

The Master of the Rolls, Sir Geoffrey Vos, has delivered a speech at the International Forum on Online Dispute Resolution considering the role of the Digital Justice System (DJS) in resolving disputes. Vos highlighted the significant changes brought by the Judicial Review and Courts Act 2022, which established the Online Procedure Rules Committee (OPRC) and its role in creating rules for online processes and the pre-action space. He noted that the powers of the OPRC will complement, rather than replace, those of existing rule committees, with the aim that online processes will eventually be governed by rules made by the OPRC. He clarified the role of the DJS and the economic and psychological advantages it could bring for those resolving disputes. He concluded by examining the role of AI in dispute resolution and the international dimension of the DJS.

The Master of the Rolls and Deputy Head of Civil Justice gave evidence to the Justice Select Committee regarding County Court operations. Sir Geoffrey Vos reported that only 23% of cases currently begin and end digitally, outlining plans to expand digital capabilities through data standards and system integration. The judges discussed recent implementation of mandatory mediation for civil claims under £10,000, which has achieved a 32% settlement rate. They also addressed plans for artificial intelligence integration in court operations, while emphasising AI cannot be used for writing judgments. A review of recently implemented fixed recoverable costs is planned for autumn 2025.

The Courts and Tribunals Judiciary (CATJ) has published a speech by Sir Geoffrey Vos, Master of the Rolls, delivered on 6 November 2025 at the 45th Anniversary of the Centre for Commercial Law Studies, Queen Mary University of London. In the address, he announced discussed the formation and work of the International Jurisdiction Taskforce (IJT)— an international body established in July 2025 to promote alignment of private law systems on digital assets, digital finance and digital trade across jurisdictions including the United Kingdom, United States, France, Singapore, Australia, Japan and the European Union.

The Courts and Tribunals Judiciary (CATJ) has published a speech by Sir Geoffrey Vos, Master of the Rolls, delivered on 4 December 2025 at the Housing Law Practitioners’ Association Conference, highlighting how the Renters’ Rights Act 2025 (RRA 2025) —including abolition of section 21 from May 2026, new rent increase rules via section 13 notices, expanded First-tier Tribunal (FTT) applications, and a compulsory Private Rented Sector database—will reshape housing justice. He stressed the role of the Online Procedure Rules Committee in creating simplified Online Procedure Rules and announced the development of a new online property and possession claims platform scheduled to released by late Spring 2026, alongside integrated digital processes and AI tools to assist litigants and support faster dispute resolution.

In his speech at the Legal Geek Conference, Master of the Rolls, Sir Geoffrey Vos highlighted the rapid shift in attitudes towards AI within the legal profession. Sir Geoffrey Vos emphasised that AI is a powerful tool, capable of streamlining tasks such as summarising documents and conducting legal research, but cautioned that its use must be grounded in understanding, privacy protection and careful verification. He asserted that AI can assist in drafting contracts and even generating legal advice or judgments, but stressed that its role should be carefully considered, particularly in judicial decision-making, where ethical and societal implications are profound.

The Master of the Rolls, Sir Geoffrey Vos, delivered the John Lehane Memorial Lecture at the Supreme Court of New South Wales, addressing the implications of artificial intelligence (AI) for the judiciary and legal profession. The speech advanced three propositions: (1) that lawyers and judges should adopt AI tools to improve access to justice; (2) that autonomous machine-made judicial decisions imposed on non-consenting parties raise rule of law concerns (including under Article 6 of the European Convention on Human Rights as applied domestically by the Human Rights Act 1998) and (3) that legal systems require early clarity on liability for harms caused by AI.

The Master of the Rolls, Sir Geoffrey Vos, delivered a speech on 4 February 2026 examining how artificial intelligence (AI) could enable civil and criminal justice outcomes to be delivered more quickly and efficiently than through human decision-making alone. He highlighted that a Digital Justice System is being established under the Online Procedure Rules Committee, while emphasising that human oversight must remain central to final justice decisions. He also raised questions as to whether machines can constitute ‘independent and impartial tribunals’ for the purposes of article 6 of the European Convention on Human Rights (ECHR). The speech also identified several key unresolved issues, including when parties should be required to consent to machine-made decisions and how article 14 of the EU AI Act may affect the deployment of AI within justice systems.

The Master of the Rolls has announced updated guideline hourly rates for solicitors, effective in England and Wales from 1 January 2026, implementing a 2.28% uplift to reflect more recent service producer price inflation figures up to Q1 2025. Sir Geoffrey Vos, as Head of Civil Justice, has confirmed that the update follows the Civil Justice Council’s recommendation as part of its strategic review of costs, following a previous 6.66% inflationary uplift applied in January 2024, and has indicated that a Civil Justice Council working group is examining whether new guideline rates should also be developed for counsel’s fees and complex commercial work, with an interim report expected later in 2026.

In considering whether to grant permission to appeal where there is no longer a subsisting live issue between the parties, Lord Neuberger MR set out three requirements that first require to be satisfied, save in exceptional cases. Additionally, at issue was the effect of an interim injunction against publication vis-a-vis third parties under the Spycatcher principle, and when that effect may cease, with reference to the decision in the Jockey Club case. Lord Neuberger MR finished his judgment with some key points to keep in mind regarding these principles and cases and also the importance of ensuring compliance with the Practice Guidance on Interim Non-Disclosure Orders published in May 2011.

A master service agreement (MSA) is a framework contract setting out the core legal and commercial terms governing an ongoing services relationship, with individual projects or work orders called off under it. It is commonly used in IT, outsourcing, facilities management, professional services and other long‑term supplier–customer arrangements.An MSA typically addresses: scope of services at a high level; pricing and payment mechanisms; service levels and performance standards; intellectual property ownership and licensing; data protection; information security; limitation and exclusion of liability; indemnities; warranties; change control; governance and dispute resolution; and termination rights and consequences. Detailed technical or project‑specific terms are usually contained in statements of work or schedules incorporated by reference.“Master service agreement” is a descriptive commercial term rather than one defined in legislation or case law in England and Wales, Scotland, Northern Ireland or Ireland. Usage and legal effect are broadly consistent across these jurisdictions, subject to differences in contract law concepts (for example, Scots law as a mixed legal system). In practice, an MSA is significant because it standardises risk allocation and contractual terms across multiple engagements, reducing the need to renegotiate core provisions for each new project.