Global law firm Freshfields LLP (‘Freshfields’) has advised EQT and Isotope Finco S.à r.l. (‘Isotope Finco’), the indirect parent company of Isotope Bidco Limited (‘Isotope Bidco’), on the bank and bond financing for Isotope Bidco’s recommended cash offer of Intertek
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FCA publishes findings from review into governance in the benchmarks sector
On 12 October 2026, the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) published its multi-firm review of governance arrangements at benchmark administrators.
Background
The FCA sets out that the review forms the final stage of supervisory work arising from risks identified in the
Student lets and Ground 4A: using holding deposits to reserve properties early
The changes brought into renting property practice in England by the Renters Rights Act 2025 have been particularly hard for student landlords.
The loss of the ability to require several months’ rent in advance means that accepting students without a
High Court penalises government for ignoring litigation deadlines
Chamberlain: Entirely predictable that breach would make hearing impossible
The High Court has strongly criticised the Government Legal Department for repeatedly missing deadlines and only applying for extensions after they passed – penalising it with indemnity costs.Mr Justice Chamberlain, the
Solicitor who “preferred interests” of one client over others struck off
SDT: Conduct was dishonest and untrustworthy
A veteran solicitor who “preferred the interests” of one client in property transactions over the interests of his co-owners has been struck off.The Solicitors Disciplinary Tribunal (SDT) said Angela Stanton, 73, acted dishonestly in
Judiciary to take “cautious but positive” approach to AI use
Birss: Human oversight essential
AI offers “potentially transformative implications for justice”, the incoming Master of the Rolls has said, and the judiciary’s approach will be “cautious but positive”.Sir Colin Birss stressed that the technology would be adopted to support but
UK Announces Crackdown on Non-Compete Clauses and Long Notice Periods
If implemented, the proposals would upend the status quo – significantly limiting employers’ ability to stop departing employees from joining or setting up a competitor, and potentially capping the notice periods employers can require.
Speaking at the Innovation Nation Summit
Beyond the tech: what really drives transformation in law firms
By Legal Futures Associate LEAP EnterpriseIt’s tempting to think digital transformation is a technology problem. A recent breakfast roundtable hosted by LEAP Enterprise CEO Joe Sanderson and Head of Product James Dudden suggested otherwise. Gathering a group of law firm
Discrimination in prison medication dispensing – objective justification and an unjustified failure to think about it
The UK Human Rights Blog is moving to Substack.
From 19th October, all new articles will be published exclusively on our Substack, and no new content will appear on our current website.
To stay up to date with our latest
Two more wrongful convictions linked to corrupt detective Ridgewell
Two men convicted as teenagers in a case involving disgraced police officer Derek Ridgewell have had their convictions referred for review, taking the number of people whose cases linked to the corrupt detective have been referred by the Criminal Cases