In January 2022, the Law Commission published a joint report with the Scottish Law Commission with their recommendations for legal reform around automated vehicles and how they could safely and responsibly be introduced on GB roads and public places. The Automated Vehicles Bill was laid before Parliament and the Scottish Parliament. On Monday 20 May … Read more >
The Law Commission of England and Wales has today published a supplemental report and draft Bill that, if implemented, would confirm the existence of a third category of personal property into which certain digital and other assets could fall. The Commission’s digital assets report in June 2023 concluded that certain digital assets, including crypto-tokens and … Read more >
The Arbitration Bill was introduced into Parliament today. The Bill enacts the recommendations of the Law Commission to reform arbitration law. The Law Commission was asked by the Government to review the Arbitration Act 1996, to determine whether there might be any amendments to be made in order to ensure that it is fit for … Read more >
Today in the King’s Speech the Government announced that it will be taking forward the Law Commission recommendations relating to leasehold and commonhold. Millions of leaseholders are likely to benefit from these changes. The Commissioner responsible for the recommendations, Professor Nick Hopkins said, “I welcome the Government’s commitment to implementing the Law Commission’s recommendations. As I … Read more >
Today, the Law Commission has published a scoping paper looking into how Decentralised Autonomous Organisations (DAOs) can be characterised and how the law of England and Wales might accommodate them now and in the future. The paper seeks to identify current issues around DAOs to inform any future law reform or innovations. The term “DAO” describes, … Read more >
Today, the Law Commission publishes a consultation paper reviewing the law on contempt of court. A summary of the paper is here and the full consultation paper is here. “Contempt of court” refers to a wide variety of conduct that may impede or interfere with the administration of justice. For example, taking photographs in a … Read more >
The Law Commission’s Annual Report 2023-24 has been published. The annual report highlights the work the Law Commission has done from October 2023 to March 2024. We would like to thank colleagues across the Law Commission for their input and contribution to this annual report. This has been a particularly busy and productive period in … Read more >
Professor Penney Lewis has been reappointed as Commissioner for Criminal Law for a further five years, the Government has announced. Originally appointed in 2020, Professor Lewis will now serve until 31 December 2029, leading on projects to ensure that the laws governing areas such as evidence in sexual offences prosecutions, criminal appeals and contempt of court … Read more >
The Law Commission is today launching a new project, beginning their preliminary research into agricultural law in Wales. The Welsh Government has asked the Law Commission to review agricultural law in Wales and consider how it could be brought together under a code of law. The aim of any such code would be to simplify … Read more >
Professor Alison Young has started today (18 March 2024) as a new Commissioner at the Law Commission for a period of five years. Professor Young replaces Nicholas Paines KC as the Commissioner for Public and Welsh Law. She will oversee the work of the Public Law and Law in Wales team on a variety of … Read more >