Skip to main content

Posts

Barrister Who Cited Five Fake Cases In Legal Proceedings Suspected Of Using AI - Portner

  A judge has accused a barrister and solicitor of “appalling professional misbehaviour” in relation to the citation of five fake cases in a statement of facts and trying to dismiss these as “minor citation errors”. It was suggested in the judgment that the fake cases may have been referenced due to the barrister using artificial intelligence. Partner Alex Williams reviews the case of Ayinde, R v The London Borough of Haringey and discusses the use of AI in legal research and drafting. Judgment in Ayinde The case involved judicial review proceedings in which the barrister for the claimant, Sarah Forey, lodged written submissions that referred to five cases that did not exist. When asked by the defendant’s solicitors to provide copies of the judgments, the claimant’s solicitors failed to do so, did not admit the cases were made up and said references to them were merely “cosmetic errors” that could be “easily explained”. The judge concluded that this assertion was “a grossly ...
Post a Comment
Read more
Recent posts

High Court Rescinds Purchase Of £32.5m Mansion Due To Seller’s Fraudulent Misrepresentation - Portner

  The High Court has ruled in favour of buyers who sought rescission and damages for fraudulent misrepresentation in their purchase of a £32.5m million mansion in Notting Hill. Partner Daniel Broughton examines the decision in Patarkatsishvili and another v Woodward-Fisher [2025] EWHC 265 (Ch), which underscores the vital importance of giving honest disclosures to enquiries in property transactions.​ Background Iya Patarkatsishvili and her husband, Dr Yevhen Hunyak, purchased Horbury Villa, a Victorian mansion in Notting Hill, from developer Mr William Woodward-Fisher for £32.5m in May 2019. Shortly after moving in, they discovered a severe infestation of clothes moths that had not been apparent during pre-contract inspections. Investigations revealed that the infestation originated from woollen insulation installed during renovations between 2012 and 2013. Pre-contract enquiries and misrepresentations Before the sale, Mr Woodward-Fisher responded to standard pre-contra...
Post a Comment
Read more

Local Authorities Given New Powers To Auction Empty Shops In Bid To Revitalise High Streets - Portner

  The government has granted power to local authorities to “breathe new life back into high streets and transform long-term empty shops”. High Street Rental Auctions (HSRAs) will enable local authorities to tackle persistently vacant properties by putting empty shop leases up for auction. Partner Mitchell Griver examines the new proposals. The government says UK high streets have been neglected for too long, resulting in one in seven high street shops currently being closed. It has committed to “revitalise town centres and bring thriving high streets back for good”. Under new rules that came into force on 2 December 2024, councils will be able to step in and auction one-to-five-year leases of “qualifying high street premises” that have been empty for more than 365 days in the previous two years. Qualifying high-street premises “Qualifying high-street premises” are premises the local authority considers suitable for “high-street use” situated in a designated high street o...
Post a Comment
Read more

Government Plans To Abolish Leasehold Flats And Introduce Commonhold By 2029 - Portner

  The government has announced significant reforms aimed at abolishing the traditional leasehold system for flats, transitioning instead to a commonhold model. This move seeks to address longstanding criticisms of the leasehold system, which has often been viewed as outdated and unfair to homeowners. In this article, senior associate Joe Genco examines the government’s proposed reforms. Understanding freehold, leasehold and commonhold Property ownership in England is primarily divided into freehold and leasehold tenures. Freehold ownership is perpetual, while leasehold ownership (the default for flats) is time-limited. Under the leasehold system, homeowners purchase the right to occupy a property for a specified period (typically 99, 125 or 999 years), but the freeholder owns the land and building. This arrangement can lead to issues such as escalating ground rents, high service charges and limited control over property management. In contrast, commonhold offers a form of...
Post a Comment
Read more