Blog
From Separation to Succession: Protecting your Pets
Lucy Bluck
10 December 2025
Under construction: Tax investigations
In Rachel Reeve’s Budget on 26 November 2025, the Chancellor set out plans, among other things a to tackle fraud within the Construction Industry Scheme (“CIS”) and announced a technical consultation “aimed at simplifying and improving the administration of the scheme”.
9 December 2025
No more deemed fulfilment: The Supreme Court decision in King Crude Carriers SA v Ridgebury November LLC
The recent Supreme Court judgment in King Crude Carriers SA and others v Ridgebury November LLC marks a significant development in English contract law.
The decision arose from an appeal against an arbitration award and addresses the fundamental question of whether the so called “deemed fulfilment” principle established by the 1881 Scottish Appeal case of Mackay v Dick exists in English Law.
8 December 2025
2025 in Review: Civil Fraud
In 2025, two High Court rulings, Apollo XI Ltd v Nexedge Markets Ltd and J&J Snack Foods Corp & ICEE Corp v Ralph Peters & Sons Ltd highlighted the strict nature of the duty of full and frank disclosure in without notice applications.
In both cases, the court discharged freezing injunctions after finding that the applicants had failed to meet the requisite standard of candour and fair presentation. These decisions serve as a clear reminder that when seeking urgent relief without notifying the other party, applicants must present all material facts - including those that may undermine their case, and ensure the court receives a balanced and accurate account.
5 December 2025
“But you gave it to me” – Is there a way to ungive a gift?
We sometimes receive enquiries from people asking whether it is possible to challenge a gift which has been made previously.
Of course, giving someone a ‘lifetime gift’ (i.e. where money or assets are given away during a person’s lifetime) can be an efficient estate planning mechanism but, may be subject to challenge if the donor lacked the capacity to make an informed choice or, has been unduly influenced into making a gift.
We usually see this within the scope of a gift of money or a property, but similar principals apply to collectables and other chattels.
3 December 2025
Victims of Fraud Series Part 4: Tracing issues in crypto assets cases
Claims involving digital assets (including crypto assets) have become relatively common in the English Courts over the last five years and, as a result, the main areas of disagreement between the parties to those disputes are starting to emerge. A major theme is the methodology that should be applied to the tracing and following of digital assets.
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