United Kingdom: Civil Law

The UK Jurisdiction Taskforce (UKJT) has published its final legal statement on liability for AI harms under the private law of England and Wales, following a public consultation earlier this year.

Private landowners may unknowingly lose control of their property when members of the public acquire rights of way through continuous use over 20 years, even without the owner's knowledge or consent. This analysis examines the legal mechanisms available to protect against such claims, including the strategic use of section 31(6) statements under the Highways Act 1980, and explores recent Court of Appeal guidance on what constitutes an 'interruption' to public use following the landmark Roxlena Ltd v Rambler

A Technology and Construction Court case examines whether a haulage company can be held vicariously liable for a driver's negligence when delivering chemicals to a water treatment plant, despite the driver being seconded to and embedded within the client's organization for five years. The judgment explores the boundaries of dual vicarious liability and the enforceability of standard road haulage contract terms.

As many in the cross-border world will know, the update to Article 913 of the French Civil code with the addition of the DPC which came into force from November 2021 caused major issues with estates where a foreign law applied which did not have an equivalent to French forced heirship provisions.

Recent court cases reveal how undue influence claims can invalidate wills, examining the burden of proof required and what constitutes coercion when a testator's free will is overborne.

Two recent decisions confirm the courts’ reluctance to interfere with regulators’ powers of publication in the absence of clear and compelling evidence of harm.

On 16 January 2026, the Court of Appeal handed down judgment in the case of Smithstone v Tranmoor Primary School, a decision on costs recovery under CPR 36.17 when a party beats a liability-only Part 36 offer.

In an order dated 18 December 2025, the Rome Court of Appeal reaffirmed the principle that an appeal brought against a court order warning a non-compliant parent must be declared inadmissible.

On 19 December 2025, the English High Court delivered judgment in a challenge under section 67 of the Arbitration Act 1996 (the "Act"), addressing the tribunal's jurisdiction and the authority of a law firm...