Lord Sales, Justice of the UK Supreme Court, delivered a presentation to the European Legal Dialogues Group analysing the European Court of Human Rights' (ECtHR) trajectory towards process-based review over recent decades. The presentation, delivered on 17 October 2025 in Strasbourg, argues that the ECtHR has increasingly focused its review on whether national institutions have engaged with Convention provisions and the Court's jurisprudence, rather than conducting purely substantive review. Lord Sales contends this procedural approach is justified given the maturity of ECtHR caselaw and tensions between the Court's decision-making and democratic principles in Contracting States. The analysis examines the margin of appreciation doctrine's three operational axes: accommodating tension between Convention rights and democratic decision-making, providing space for local expertise, and regulating calls upon the ECtHR's attention. The presentation suggests this trend towards partnership and shared responsibility will continue strengthening Convention compliance whilst addressing democratic deficit criticisms.

The UK Supreme Court has announced that its President, Lord Reed of Allermuir, will retire on 10 January 2027, creating a vacancy for which the Lord Chancellor is expected to convene an independent selection commission under statutory rules. Lord Reed, who became a Justice in 2012, Deputy President in 2018 and President in 2020, has overseen the Court’s legal and administrative work, promoted international judicial cooperation, supported sittings outside London and reinstated the practice of judges from Judicial Committee of the Privy Council jurisdictions sitting on appeals. In his retirement statement he reflected on his service to the UK and Privy Council jurisdictions. His career includes qualification as both advocate and barrister, extensive civil and criminal practice, 13 years as a senior judge in Scotland, service as an ad hoc judge of the European Court of Human Rights and his role as High Steward of Oxford University.

The UK Supreme Court has announced that His Majesty The King has approved the appointment of Lord Justice Snowden as a Justice of the Supreme Court. This appointment was made on the advice of the Prime Minister and Lord Chancellor, following a recommendation from an independent selection commission. Lord Justice Snowden, called to the Bar by Lincoln’s Inn in 1986, practised at Erskine Chambers, specialising in company law, corporate insolvency, financial services and related commercial litigation. He was appointed Queen’s Counsel in 2003 and became a High Court Judge in the Chancery Division in 2015. In October 2021, he was promoted to the Court of Appeal. In his previous roles, Lord Justice Snowden served as the Supervising Judge of the Business and Property Courts for the Northern and North-Eastern Circuits from 2019 and was appointed Lead Judge for International Relations for the judiciary in March 2025.

The UK Supreme Court has announced that His Majesty King Charles III has approved the appointment of Lord Sales as Deputy President of the Supreme Court. The appointment was made on the advice of the Prime Minister, Sir Keir Starmer, and Lord Chancellor, David Lammy, following the recommendation of an independent selection commission. Lord Sales will succeed Lord Hodge, who is retiring at the end of December 2025, and will take up the post in January 2026. The role of Deputy President involves working alongside the President to oversee the Court’s judicial work, undertaking leadership and ambassadorial responsibilities and engaging with parliamentarians, government, other UK courts and international judicial organisations.

The UK Supreme Court has announced that its fees will increase from 1 April 2026 following recommendations from the Lord Chancellor. The increases reflect Consumer Prices Index inflation of 5.9% measured between March 2023 and March 2025, with the permission to appeal fee rising to £1,470 and the notice of appeal filing fee increasing to £9,500. These adjustments represent the second increase since 2011, following a 2024 decision to implement biennial fee reviews to account for inflation. Parties that have already filed permission to appeal applications will be subject to the new fees for any subsequent stages of their appeal proceedings. The Lord Chancellor sets Supreme Court fees under powers conferred by the Constitutional Reform Act 2005.

The UK Supreme Court has announced that Lord Richards will retire from both the Supreme Court and the Judicial Committee of the Privy Council in June 2026. Lord Richards was appointed to the Supreme Court in 2022, after serving in the High Court and the Court of Appeal. The Lord Chancellor, David Lammy, has convened a Selection Commission to appoint his successor. Candidates are expected to demonstrate substantial judicial or equivalent adjudicative experience.

Law360: The Ministry of Justice (MOJ) has announced that it will hike application fees for civil appeals to the Supreme Court by nearly 40% from £1,000 to £1,390 to raise funds for the UK’s top court.

Law360: Britain's highest court has barred the extradition of a British-Lebanese trader to the US over insider dealing allegations, finding on 12 February 2025 that the charges he faced for allegedly doling out lavish gifts in exchange for tips occurred in Britain.

Restructuring & Insolvency analysis: The Supreme Court held that a final and conclusive foreign money judgment gives rise at common law to an immediate legal obligation to pay, even if it has not been recognised or registered in England and Wales, and can therefore constitute a ‘debt’ for bankruptcy purposes under section 267 of the Insolvency Act 1986 (IA 1986). Rejecting the Court of Appeal’s approach, it distinguished enforceability by execution from the underlying obligation principle and held that neither the Foreign Judgments (Reciprocal Enforcement) Act 1933 (FJ(RE)A 1933) nor Article 13 of the United Nations Commission on International Trade Law (UNCITRAL) Model Law on Cross-Border Insolvency altered that analysis. The decision enables creditors to found bankruptcy petitions on qualifying unrecognised, unregistrable foreign judgments, although fraud, public policy, natural justice and bona fide dispute issues remain material. Produced in partnership with Lucy McCann, partner at Brodies LLP.

Private client analysis: The Supreme Court unanimously held that a vendor-purchaser constructive trust (VPCT) can validly transfer beneficial interests in shares even where the purchaser already holds legal title as trustee. The judgment clarifies that momentary existence of the constructive trust before merger with legal title does not defeat its operation. Furthermore, Lord Briggs' analysis of the distinction between beneficial and equitable interests provides valuable guidance on fundamental trust principles. The ruling demonstrates how equitable solutions can resolve commercial arrangements, while also showing the courts' reluctance to disturb long-standing assumptions about the scope of section 53(1)(c) of the Law of Property Act 1925.]. Practical implications written by Adam Smith-Roberts of Gatehouse Chambers.

Law360, London: Russia has been denied permission to challenge an appellate court ruling in Britain dismissing its attempt to use State immunity to block former investors in Yukos Oil Co from enforcing more than US$63bn in arbitral awards they won nearly 11 years ago, the investors said on 30 June 2025.

Law360, London: In its 29 July 2025 judgment in Shvidler v Secretary of State; Dalston Projects Ltd v Secretary of State for Transport, concluding Eugene Shvidler's judicial challenge to UK government sanctions imposed on him, the UK Supreme Court endorsed the High Court and Court of Appeal's assessments that Shvidler's designation under the Russia Sanctions Regulations, levied as a result of the war in Ukraine, was proportionate, thus rejecting Shvidler's appeal.