Michelle Bendall

The full facts of Sir Ranulph's situation are not known and will no doubt be the subject of further investigation and scrutiny. However, the circumstances described are not uncommon and raise questions that our Court of Protection team at VWV advises on regularly in practice. What happens where a loved one loses capacity and disagreements arise as to their financial or welfare arrangements?

The Government has published three linked updates on the Employment Rights Act 2025 fire and rehire reforms. The revised implementation timetable confirms when the protections will start; the consultation response clarifies which contractual changes will be covered; and a draft Code of Practice explains how employers should approach negotiations and any proposed dismissal and re-engagement.

Several reforms previously listed only as taking effect in 2027 now have confirmed dates, while timing for some measures remains under review.

Employers should ensure that any application to strike out a claim is justified by evidence and that less severe alternatives have been considered.

HR may advise of disciplinary matters, but the responsibility for deciding whether to dismiss must remain with the appointed decision maker, who must exercise independent judgement.

In Elliott v Bateson & Anor (Re Estate of Mark Briant) [2026] EWHC 2440 (Ch), the High Court has struck down a life interest trust provision in a will because the solicitor who drafted it failed to explain its effect to the testator. The case is a sharp reminder that where a solicitor introduces a new concept into a will, particularly one that departs from the client's original instructions, the solicitor must ensure the testator genuinely understands what it means.

Legal advice privilege and litigation advice privilege are available to ringfence documentation, communication and information in the event of a dispute, whether it is contemplated or ongoing.

Mismanagement of privileged information can mean you are required to disclose the contents of the communication, which could potentially undermine your legal position in a dispute. This note is intended to assist you in understanding the parameters of privilege to ensure you are using it correctly.

The proposals could introduce mandatory whistleblowing policies and procedures for many employers, change the routes available for protected disclosures and extend access to interim relief following dismissal.

An employee's mental health may be considered in a harassment claim, but it does not decide the outcome on its own.