This is the 33rd episode of our series of commercial litigation update podcasts. In this episode we give updates on the anticipated pilot on public access to court documents, two consultations relating to class actions and high-volume claims, and the Singapore Convention on international mediated settlements. We also discuss a couple of recent Court of Appeal decisions on contract law issues and the Supreme Court's decision in the motor finance commission appeal This episode is hosted by Maura McIntosh, a knowledge counsel in our commercial litigation team, who is joined by Natasha Johnson, a disputes partner, and Ceri Morgan, a knowledge counsel in our banking litigation team.

Below you can find links to our blog posts on the developments and cases covered in this podcast.

• Solicitors Regulation Authority reviews high-volume consumer claims sector
• Ministry of Justice consults on implementation of Singapore Convention on international mediated settlements
• Court of Appeal confirms court has no jurisdiction despite English jurisdiction clauses as defendants were not parties to relevant contracts as undisclosed principals
• Court of Appeal finds binding contract concluded by exchange of emails despite referring to preparation of formal agreement
• Supreme Court decision in Hopcraft motor finance commission appeal – key implications for financial services firms

See podcast episode transcript here.

In this "Back to school" edition of the public law podcast, Jasveer Randhawa is joined by HSF Kramer partners Nusrat Zar and James Wood. Together, they discuss recent developments in the duty to consult in the cases of Liberty and Possible (The 10:10 Foundation) before delving into human rights challenges in Shvidler and Wikimedia Foundation. To conclude, they explore judicial approaches in complex areas and reflect on the balance between discretion and accountability in high policy contexts.

Speakers: Jasveer Randhawa (Knowledge Counsel), Nusrat Zar (Partner), and James Wood (Partner).

You can find out more about the cases covered in this podcast on our blog at the following links:

Another twist in the consultation case law – so just what is a consultation?

Challenges to the Jet Zero Strategy grounded as Administrative Court dismisses claims based on consultation and policy concerns

Supreme Court decides on the correct standard of review for proportionality

High Court dismisses Wikimedia’s challenge to Online Safety Act thresholds—but leaves the door open for future challenges

High Court gives guidance on regulator's interpretation of legislation and codes

Procedural flaw under the National Security and Investment Act regime insufficient to invalidate decision

Marina Reason and Chris Hurn discuss the FCA's proposals for regulating cryptoasset custody, set out in chapter 4 of consultation paper 25/14. This is our second podcast considering CP25/14: we unpacked the FCA's proposals on issuing qualifying stablecoins in our podcast "Decrypting the FCA stablecoin rules". We also examined CP25/15, the FCA's proposed new prudential regime for cryptoasset firms, in our podcast "Decoding the FCA crypto capital rules". These FCA consultations followed publication by HM Treasury of near-final draft legislation to create new regulated activities for cryptoassets, and an FCA discussion paper (DP25/1) on regulating cryptoassets, We discussed these developments in our podcast on "The Top 3 takeaways from the new crypto rules" - and our related blog post.