Overview
This Autumn 2025 session provides an essential update on key case law in negligence, with a focus on practical developments affecting public highways, local authorities, and assumptions of responsibility. Delegates will explore the latest court decisions, including the first rulings on e-scooters, and gain insight into how courts address ex turpi causa arguments.
The session will also cover routes to liability success for local authorities, beyond the Highways Act 1980, including considerations under the New Road and Street Works Act. Delegates will leave equipped with practical strategies for applying legal principles to the facts and optimising outcomes in negligence claims.
Learning outcomes
- Understand recent case law updates in negligence, including e-scooter cases
- Analyse the first court decisions and their implications for public highways
- Respond effectively to ex turpi causa arguments
- Explore routes to liability success for local authorities
- Apply legal principles beyond the Highways Act and under the New Road and Street Works Act
- Evaluate assumptions of responsibility and relevant factors in negligence claims
Vice President, Law Society
Brett is a consultant solicitor with higher rights of audience for all civil proceedings. His specialism is civil procedure with a specific interest in digital change. He also provides training and consultancy services in relation to personal injury, technology and practice development.
He is also the Deputy Vice President Elect of the Law Society of England & Wales. He has been the president of the Association of Personal Injury Lawyers on two occasions. He is a senior fellow of APIL and chair of the Senior Fellow Appointments Committee. He is involved in decisions in relation to interventions in civil proceedings recently including Belsner v Cam, Ho v Adelekun, and Hassam v Rabot along with judicial reviews by APIL of the fixed recoverable costs rules and the discount rate. He is a past member of the Civil Procedure Rule Committee and the current legal expert member of the Online Procedure Rule Committee. He is a director of Medco and a member of the Official Injuries Advisory Group... view full biography