Welcome to Find Me A Solicitor: The Legal Brief! Find Me A Solicitor’s monthly round-up of key legal developments from across the UK. Each edition brings together the most important changes in law, policy and regulation from the past month, offering clear insight into how they may affect individuals, businesses and legal professionals alike. As the legal landscape continues to evolve, Find Me A Solicitor remains committed to helping people navigate complex legal issues by connecting them with trusted solicitors across England and Wales, ensuring the right advice is always within reach.
- Judicial Review Reforms Could Reshape Infrastructure Disputes
The Ministry of Justice has launched a consultation aimed at reducing delays caused by weak or unmeritorious judicial review claims affecting major housing, transport and energy projects. The proposals would extend existing reforms beyond Nationally Significant Infrastructure Projects, with the stated aim of accelerating economic growth while maintaining access to justice.
For developers, investors and local authorities, this could mean fewer opportunities to delay or derail projects through legal challenge, but also raises questions about how “unmeritorious” will be defined in practice, and what safeguards remain for genuine grievances. Planning, environmental and public law practitioners should watch this closely, as the outcome could significantly alter the balance between infrastructure delivery and the right to challenge it.
If your business is involved in a project facing, or considering bringing, a judicial review challenge, Find Me A Solicitor can connect you with a specialist planning or public law solicitor who can advise on your position.
- AI Set to Transform Criminal Disclosure
The Home Office has announced reforms permitting police forces to use artificial intelligence to review and summarise digital evidence in criminal investigations, following recommendations from Jonathan Fisher KC’s Independent Review of Disclosure and Fraud Offences.
This is one of the most significant technological changes to criminal investigations in decades, and is intended to reduce the disclosure delays that have long dogged the criminal justice system. However, it also raises important questions around reliability, fairness and evidential integrity that defence practitioners and defendants alike should be alive to.
Anyone facing a criminal investigation involving significant volumes of digital evidence should take early advice. Find Me A Solicitor can connect you with a criminal defence solicitor who understands how these reforms may affect your case.
- Environmental Enforcement Powers Expanded
New regulations now empower the Environment Agency and Natural England to issue civil penalties and enforcement notices for certain environmental breaches, reducing reliance on criminal prosecution.
For businesses, this means greater and potentially faster regulatory exposure. Environmental compliance is becoming increasingly important, and the shift toward civil enforcement mechanisms reflects a wider government trend of favouring speed and flexibility over the criminal courts. Businesses should review their compliance procedures now, rather than waiting for a penalty notice to arrive.
If your business needs advice on environmental compliance or is facing enforcement action, Find Me A Solicitor can connect you with a specialist environmental law solicitor.
- Immigration Appeals Face New 24-Week Deadline
New legislation has activated statutory deadlines requiring the First-tier Tribunal to determine specified immigration and deportation appeals within 24 weeks, aimed at reducing lengthy case backlogs.
This should mean faster resolution and greater certainty for appellants and practitioners. It may, however, place significant pressure on tribunals and legal representatives to prepare cases more quickly than before, which could affect the quality of representation available to those without early legal advice.
Anyone with an ongoing or upcoming immigration appeal should seek advice as early as possible to make the most of the time available. Find Me A Solicitor can connect you with an immigration solicitor who can help you prepare.
- Parliament Launches Inquiry into the Online Safety Act
The House of Lords Communications and Digital Committee has opened a fresh inquiry into the implementation of the Online Safety Act, seeking evidence on how effectively the legislation is working in practice and whether further reform is needed.
This is relevant for technology companies, online platforms and anyone operating in the media, technology or data protection space. The inquiry’s findings could influence how digital services are regulated going forward, and businesses in this space should keep a close eye on developments.
If your business operates an online platform and needs advice on regulatory compliance, Find Me A Solicitor can connect you with a technology or media law specialist.
- Justice Committee Warns of Rising Risk to Fair Trials
The House of Commons Justice Committee has published a report warning that declining legal aid availability and rising numbers of self-represented litigants are creating an “unacceptably high risk” of miscarriages of justice.
This finding highlights growing concerns over access to justice and is likely to reignite debate around legal aid funding and wider reform. It is significant for family, civil and criminal practitioners alike, and underscores why early, informed legal advice matters more than ever for those who cannot access legal aid.
Whether you are facing a family, civil or criminal matter, Find Me A Solicitor can connect you with a solicitor who can advise on your options before you find yourself navigating the system alone.
Case of the Month
The Kingdom of Bahrain v Shehabi and another UK Supreme Court
The UK Supreme Court ruled that Bahrain cannot rely on state immunity to prevent a civil claim brought by two UK-based dissidents who allege they were targeted with spyware causing psychiatric injury in the UK.
This judgment clarifies the limits of state immunity in cyber-related claims and strengthens the ability of UK courts to hear certain claims against foreign states. It highlights the growing overlap between international law, cyber law, privacy and human rights, an area likely to generate further litigation as surveillance technology becomes more sophisticated.
Key takeaway: Foreign states may not be immune from civil proceedings in the UK where alleged actions abroad result in personal injury suffered within the UK.
Summary
July 2026 has brought continued momentum toward modernising the justice system, from embracing AI in criminal investigations to reforming judicial review, strengthening environmental regulation, improving tribunal efficiency and scrutinising online safety laws. At the same time, the Supreme Court’s decision in Bahrain v Shehabi shows how long-standing legal principles are adapting to meet the challenges posed by emerging technology and cross-border disputes.
For individuals, businesses and practitioners alike, the message is consistent: legal change often creates risk, or opportunity, before it is widely understood. Find Me A Solicitor can help you connect with the right specialist solicitor so you can understand your position early and take the right advice before an issue becomes urgent.
Written and researched by Lukundo Siwila
Contact us today at findmeasolicitor.co.uk