Law and Disorder

What state are our prisons really in? At 98% capacity but with a 68% reoffending rate (for shorter sentences), it seems punishment we're good at, but rehabilitation we are not, nor are we freeing up space for other convicts, which in turn would help tackle the great criminal court backlog. To help us understand where we're headed - or where we'd like to be - we're joined this week by the head of the Howard League for Penal Reform. Andrea Coomber KC.Law and Disorder is a Podot podcast.Hosted by: Charlie Falconer, Helena Kennedy, Nicholas Mostyn.Executive Producer and editor: Nick Hilton.Associate Producers: Lulu Goad Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Accidents happen all the time, but how many of us have taken measures to ensure the life support machine is kept on (or turned off) according to our compos mentis desires? This week we are joined by Celia Kitzinger, founding co-director of the Open Justice Court of Protection Project and an honorary professor in the School of Law and Politics at the University of Cardiff, to discuss the merits and demerits of the Advance Decision to Refuse Treatment (ADRT), or living will, the legally binding document used to refuse specific medical treatments in the future if one loses the capacity to make or communicate decisions. Our conversation, of course, is kicked off by a scene from one of our favourite American medical dramas, The Pitt. Law and Disorder is a Podot podcast.Hosted by: Charlie Falconer, Helena Kennedy, Nicholas Mostyn.Executive Producer and editor: Nick Hilton.Associate Producers: Lulu Goad Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Dealing with pets on divorce seems to be an 'if you know you know' area of the law - and it's not a big area. There is very little in place to protect pets and their owners upon relationship breakdown and far too often, the process is worsened or prolonged significantly due to the fight for cat custody. With us to discuss what they describe as 'one of the fastest-growing and most emotionally charged issues in modern family practice' are co-authors of a 'Practical Guide to Pets on Divorce for Family Lawyers', Sadie Glover and Estella Newbold-Brown, as well as family barrister Sarah Lucy Cooper, the co-founder of a working group on pets on divorce and separation alongside Estella. Law and Disorder is a Podot podcast.Hosted by: Charlie Falconer, Helena Kennedy, Nicholas Mostyn.Executive Producer and editor: Nick Hilton.Associate Producers: Lulu Goad Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The judgment has been passed down in a case involving a number of high profile litigants (Prince Harry, Doreen Lawrence and Elton John among them) versus Associated Newspapers, publishers of the Daily Mail. Judge Mr Justice Nicklin dismissed the allegations of unlawful information gathering, in what is being heralded, by some, as a verdict that defends press freedom. For others, however, it will simply license further outrageous behaviour on behalf of private investigators and media organisations. To discuss this, the Law and Disorder team are joined by Charlie Moloney, legal commentator and co-author of McNae's Essential Law for Journalists, and get a dispatch from within the courtroom from Sian Harrison.Law and Disorder is a Podot podcast.Hosted by: Charlie Falconer, Helena Kennedy, Nicholas Mostyn.Executive Producer and editor: Nick Hilton.Associate Producers: Lulu Goad Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In early May, Southampton FC was investigated for an alleged case of spying on Middlesbrough before a championship play-off tie. After a whirlwind investigation, the League Arbitration Panel found that the club had "intended to obtain a sporting advantage over their league rivals by cheating" and Southampton was barred from playing in the championship final. Commercial sports and entertainment lawyer, and CAS arbitrator, Jeff Benz joins us to help us determine whether this was indeed a just punishment. Law and Disorder is a Podot podcast.Hosted by: Charlie Falconer, Helena Kennedy, Nicholas Mostyn.Executive Producer and editor: Nick Hilton.Associate Producers: Lulu Goad Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This year marks a century since the creation of the first legal framework for adoption in England and Wales through the Adoption of Children Act 1926. This week we hear from the former High Court judge of the Family Division, Sir Mark Hedley, as well as former Conservative minister, Michael Gove - who also happens to be adopted - to find out more about adoption legislation over the years; what went right, what went wrong, and what could (and should) change in the century to come. Law and Disorder is a Podot podcast.Hosted by: Charlie Falconer, Helena Kennedy, Nicholas Mostyn.Executive Producer and editor: Nick Hilton.Associate Producers: Ewan Cameron & Lulu Goad Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

A lot has changed for Palestine Action since our last recording on the topic in February. Last week, the Court of Appeal ruled that the Government ban on the pro-Palestine direct-action group was lawful, and just days before, a group of Palestine Action activists, 'the Filton 4', were jailed for targeting Elbit Systems, Israel's largest weapons manufacturer, in protest against the war in Gaza. Charlie and Nicholas unpack the law around the recent events and share their expert thoughts on the respective rulings.Law and Disorder is a Podot podcast.Hosted by: Charlie Falconer, Helena Kennedy, Nicholas Mostyn.Executive Producer and editor: Nick Hilton. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In February, the news broke that the former Pakistan Prime Minister and cricketer, Imran Khan, was going blind in prison. Stuck in solitary confinement, the 73-year-old may or may not be receiving sufficient healthcare, and after three years behind bars, the world is wondering whether the the Pakistani Government will take action to prevent Khan from dying there. Pakistan historian, author and biographer, Victoria Schofield joins us this week, alongside lawyer Shahzad Akbar, to help us determine whether there might be a way out for Khan, or whether history is repeating itself..In this episode we include an exclusive interview with former Australian test captain Greg Chappell who coordinated the publication in February of an open letter from 14 former Captains from almost the entire spectrum of Test-playing countries, pleading with the Pakistani government to show Imran Khan some fairness and humanity in his treatment.Law and Disorder is a Podot podcast.Hosted by: Charlie Falconer, Helena Kennedy, Nicholas Mostyn.Executive Producer and editor: Nick Hilton.Associate Producer: Lulu Goad Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

At the end of March, the UK Government launched an initiative to overhaul the family justice system. Why? The law hasn’t kept pace with the realities of modern families, the Government says, leaving many without rights and facing financial hardship. So what does this initiative aim to do? Former president of the family division, Sir Andrew McFarlane explains that its goal is to move away from adversarial hearings to focus on the child and make way for a fairer end to relationships. He and the broadcaster, commentator and family mediator, Joanna Gosling, join us on this week's episode to help us predict the future of family law. Law and Disorder is a Podot podcast.Hosted by: Charlie Falconer, Helena Kennedy, Nicholas Mostyn.Executive Producer and editor: Nick Hilton.Associate Producers: Lulu Goad Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

We recently discussed who rules the waves in our episode 'The Law of the Sea' and it got us thinking.. who owns the moon? Foreign affairs and security expert, Baroness Catherine Ashton joins us this week to explore the cosmos. We look back on the launches of Sputnik 1 and 2, in the year that our host Nicholas Mostyn was born (1957), and consider how space science, travel and technology has changed since. But most importantly, we ask the burning question - what should we expect for the future?Law and Disorder is a Podot podcast.Hosted by: Charlie Falconer, Helena Kennedy, Nicholas Mostyn.Executive Producer and editor: Nick Hilton.Associate Producers: Ewan Cameron, Lulu Goad Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Growing up in Nazi-occupied Poland, Theodor Meron had unsurprisingly very limited access to education. But with the help of family in then Palestine, Meron got a place at the Hebrew University in Jerusalem, and, well, the rest is history. From roles as a legal adviser of the Israeli Ministry of Foreign Affairs - and sharing some "controversial" opinions on the rights of Palestinians - to being a judge for the United Nations Criminal Tribunal, there is almost nothing the 96-year-old hasn't done; he's even writing poetry! As our guest on this week's episode, Theodor Meron regales us with the story of his life and how he came to be the 'godfather' of international humanitarian law. Law and Disorder is a Podot podcast.Hosted by: Charlie Falconer, Helena Kennedy, Nicholas Mostyn.Executive Producer and editor: Nick Hilton.Associate Producers: Ewan Cameron, Lulu GoadMusic by Richard Strauss, arranged and performed by Anthony Willis & Brett Bailey. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Formerly one of the largest portfolio investors in Russia, Sir Bill Browder began his foray into political activism after the lawyer Sergei Magnitsky was killed in Russian prison for investigating a raid on Browder's Moscow offices. Almost two decades later and the American-British activist has created laws, rescued hostages and received a knighthood, all whilst facing death threats, INTERPOL arrest warrants, and a Russian prison sentence in absentia. Sir Bill joins us to tell us the story from start to end, and shares his reflections on the endless battle for international human rights.Law and Disorder is a Podot podcast.Hosted by: Charlie Falconer, Helena Kennedy, Nicholas Mostyn.Executive Producer and editor: Nick Hilton. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The creation and consumption of porn has always had relatively negative connotations. But today, more than ever, the industry is facing criticism as prolific algorithms push extreme videos to everyone young and old. The issue came to the fore in 2024 when French woman, Gisèle Pelicot waived her anonymity as the victim in a multiple rape case involving her husband and several strangers; that was the moment the world was forced to consider the impact that violent and abusive sexual content online could have. Just last year, the UK put into place their Online Safety Act, requiring age verification for the use of porn sites. It seemed then that a significant step had been taken to protect individuals against consuming and replicating such extreme scenes. But in January a CNN investigation into an online 'rape academy' revealed just how prominent the issue remained. One of the Senior Reporters on the story, Kara Fox, joins us for this episode, as well as House of Lords peer, Baroness Gabby Bertin, who shares with us her insight into leading an independent review into the regulation of online pornography for the UK Government.Law and Disorder is a Podot podcast.Hosted by: Charlie Falconer, Helena Kennedy, Nicholas Mostyn.Executive Producer and editor: Nick Hilton.Associate Producers: Ewan Cameron, Lulu GoadMusic by Richard Strauss, arranged and performed by Anthony Willis & Brett Bailey.Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

There has been much commentary lately about the role of the Chagos Islands – and particularly Diego Garcia, where there is a US military base – as a pawn in the geopolitical chess game unfolding currently across the Middle East and beyond. But the legal position of the Chagos Islands is not simple: a French territory, as part of Mauritius, then a British territory, then an overseas dependency and finally, in the 1970s, the subject of a mass deportation of locals. It is a tortured history that has led to court cases over the right to return, the position of the islands' self-determination and the lease for strategically important airbase on Diego Garcia. The lawyer and writer Philippe Sands was counsel for the Mauritian government for many years, and he joins the podcast to discuss the long struggle of the Chagossians in the face of international headwinds.Law and Disorder is a Podot podcast.Hosted by: Charlie Falconer, Helena Kennedy, Nicholas Mostyn.Executive Producer and editor: Nick Hilton.Associate Producer: Ewan Cameron.Music by Richard Strauss, arranged and performed by Anthony Willis & Brett Bailey. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Since hostilities between the United States, Israel and Iran developed into armed conflict, one of the key points of contention has been access to the Strait of Hormuz. One of the world's most important shipping lanes, the channel – which is just 21 to 24 miles across at its narrowest point – separates Iran from Oman. It has been subject to closure, from the Iranians, and blockade, by the Americans, all of which makes it a fraught case study for the complex, yet important, world of maritime law. To talk us through everything from 17th century piracy to the Cod Wars of the 20th century, we're joined by James M. Turner KC, a noted expert in this area.Law and Disorder is a Podot podcast.Hosted by: Charlie Falconer, Helena Kennedy, Nicholas Mostyn.Executive Producer and editor: Nick Hilton.Associate Producer: Ewan Cameron.Music by Richard Strauss, arranged and performed by Anthony Willis & Brett Bailey. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Returning this week after our Easter break, we find ourselves returning to the topic of assisted dying. Charlie has been one of the architects of an attempt to get assisted dying legalised in the UK, but after a long process and very public debate, the bill has been scuppered on his own turf in the House of Lords. How did this happen? What does it tell us about the intersection of morality and legislation? And where next for proponents of assisted death?Law and Disorder is a Podot podcast.Hosted by: Charlie Falconer, Helena Kennedy, Nicholas Mostyn.Executive Producer and editor: Nick Hilton.Associate Producer: Ewan Cameron.Music by Richard Strauss, arranged and performed by Anthony Willis & Brett Bailey. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

On New Year's Day 2026, Sir James Munby, former President of the Family Division, died at the age of 77. Here, the Law & Disorder trio pay tribute to James and reflect on his long and storied career.Law and Disorder is a Podot podcast.Hosted by: Charlie Falconer, Helena Kennedy, Nicholas Mostyn.Executive Producer and editor: Nick Hilton.Associate Producer: Ewan Cameron.Music by Richard Strauss, arranged and performed by Anthony Willis & Brett Bailey. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week we're returning to the ongoing crisis in Iran with Nicholas and Helena joined by Ken Roth, formerly the executive director of Human Rights Watch. Are the United States violating international law with their reprisals against Iran's nascent nuclear programme? Does Israel have a valid case for taking pre-emptive action against Tehran? And do the international courts have the legal teeth to ever take men like Trump, Netanyahu and Putin to task for their flagrant disregard for geopolitical norms?If you have questions, criticisms, praise or other feedback, please do send your thoughts to us via [email protected]!Law and Disorder is a Podot podcast.Hosted by: Charlie Falconer, Helena Kennedy, Nicholas Mostyn.Executive Producer and editor: Nick Hilton.Associate Producer: Ewan Cameron.Music by Richard Strauss, arranged and performed by Anthony Willis & Brett Bailey. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The crisis unfolding across Iran and the Gulf nations poses many questions. First amongst those is whether the United States and Israel were in breach of international law for their pre-emptive strikes on Tehran. To consider this – and place it in a historical context alongside the Caroline affair, the Suez Crisis and the Iraq War – the Law & Disorder assemble from around the globe.If you have questions, criticisms, praise or other feedback, please do send your thoughts to us via [email protected]!Law and Disorder is a Podot podcast.Hosted by: Charlie Falconer, Helena Kennedy, Nicholas Mostyn.Executive Producer and editor: Nick Hilton.Associate Producer: Ewan Cameron.Music by Richard Strauss, arranged and performed by Anthony Willis & Brett Bailey. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week we're looking at the decision of the United States Supreme Court to go against President Trump in a ruling which contests his power to unilaterally set tariffs. The case could have significant financial consequences and is being heralded as a possible turning point for a court that's often seen as excessively political. But what was in the nitty-gritty of the judgment? And does it really suggest a change of approach from the conservative majority court? The Law & Disorder triplets are joined, this week, by David D. Cole, one of America's leading constitutional law scholars (and friend of the show) and Lord Robert Carnwath, who sat on the UK Supreme Court from 2012 to 2020.If you have questions, criticisms, praise or other feedback, please do send your thoughts to us via [email protected]!Law and Disorder is a Podot podcast.Hosted by: Charlie Falconer, Helena Kennedy, Nicholas Mostyn.Executive Producer and editor: Nick Hilton.Associate Producer: Ewan Cameron.Music by Richard Strauss, arranged and performed by Anthony Willis & Brett Bailey. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In light of Hong Kong businessman and media tycoon Jimmy Lai being sentenced to 20 years in prison under China's National Security Law (a conviction for fraud was overturned after the recording of this episode), we wanted to return to the story of one of the great modern human rights injustices. Helena, Charlie and Nicholas discuss the plight of Jimmy Lai and his family, and whether British judges who continue to serve in Hong Kong are safeguarding other political prisoners or offering validity to a corrupt regime.If you have questions, criticisms, praise or other feedback, please do send your thoughts to us via [email protected]!Law and Disorder is a Podot podcast.Hosted by: Charlie Falconer, Helena Kennedy, Nicholas Mostyn.Executive Producer: Nick Hilton.Editor: Lulu GoadAssociate Producer: Ewan Cameron.Music by Richard Strauss, arranged and performed by Anthony Willis & Brett Bailey. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week we're talking about another subject that's been dominating headlines: the release of the Epstein files and the implication of Peter Mandelson and Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor in potential abuses of public office. The Law & Disorder trio gather to try and unpick the potential charges the two could face (the episode was recorded prior to Mountbatten-Windsor's arrest on February 19th) and what defence they might mount.If you have questions, criticisms, praise or other feedback, please do send your thoughts to us via [email protected]!Law and Disorder is a Podot podcast.Hosted by: Charlie Falconer, Helena Kennedy, Nicholas Mostyn.Executive Producer: Nick Hilton.Editor: Lulu GoadAssociate Producer: Ewan Cameron.Music by Richard Strauss, arranged and performed by Anthony Willis & Brett Bailey. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

One of the most controversial legal stories of the last few months has been the arrest and charging of a number of demonstrators linked to the pro-Palestine group, Palestine Action. To some, their strategies have strayed beyond protest and civil disobedience and into more dangerous territory, but, to others, they are the victims of an over zealous suppression enforced by a society reluctant to look squarely at human rights violations in Gaza. As ever, the Law & Disorder team are on hand to try to unravel some of the thorny legal aspects of this case, and consider what the future holds for protest in Britain.If you have questions, criticisms, praise or other feedback, please do send your thoughts to us via [email protected]!Law and Disorder is a Podot podcast.Hosted by: Charlie Falconer, Helena Kennedy, Nicholas Mostyn.Executive Producer: Nick Hilton.Editor: Lulu GoadAssociate Producer: Ewan Cameron.Music by Richard Strauss, arranged and performed by Anthony Willis & Brett Bailey. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

It might lack the dark glamour of criminal law or the ideological appeal of human rights law, but competition law is an important part of the systems that underpin our society. But in the modern age – with tech oligarchs becoming ever more influential – does it have the teeth to prevent monopolies forming? To discuss this, Helena Kennedy and Nicholas Mostyn are joined by another esteemed member of the Mostyn clan: Henry Mostyn, a partner at Cleary Gottlieb, and a specialist in this corner of the legal maze.This episode was generously sponsored by Cleary Gottlieb.If you have questions, criticisms, praise or other feedback, please do send your thoughts to us via [email protected]!Law and Disorder is a Podot podcast.Hosted by: Charlie Falconer, Helena Kennedy, Nicholas Mostyn.Executive Producer and Editor: Nick Hilton.Associate Producer: Ewan Cameron.Music by Richard Strauss, arranged and performed by Anthony Willis & Brett Bailey. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

British politics seems increasingly dominated by issues surrounding immigration. With Reform surging in the polls and the 'small boats crisis' never far from the headlines, it's more important than ever to give a fair hearing to the legal and moral framework behind immigration. To do so, Helena, Charlie and Nicholas are joined by Enver Solomon, outgoing CEO of the Refugee Council and an expert in Britain's contentious immigration debate. If you have questions, criticisms, praise or other feedback, please do send your thoughts to us via [email protected]!Law and Disorder is a Podot podcast.Hosted by: Charlie Falconer, Helena Kennedy, Nicholas Mostyn.Executive Producer and Editor: Nick Hilton.Associate Producer: Ewan Cameron.Music by Richard Strauss, arranged and performed by Anthony Willis & Brett Bailey. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Australia has recently introduced a ban on under-16s using social media, a measure that has considerable support here in the UK. But does it really tackle the core issue of Big Tech companies exposing children to addictive algorithms and dangerous content? Has the government been captured by shiny technology companies and the promise of jobs and investment? Or is there something that could be done to protect people from digital abuse? Beeban Kidron – Baroness Kidron of Angel, to her peers in the upper chamber – is a film director who has become a campaigner for digital safety. She joins the podcast for a conversation, and debate, about how best to tackle this issue.If you have questions, criticisms, praise or other feedback, please do send your thoughts to us via [email protected]!Law and Disorder is a Podot podcast.Hosted by: Charlie Falconer, Helena Kennedy, Nicholas Mostyn.Executive Producer and Editor: Nick Hilton.Associate Producer: Ewan Cameron.Music by Richard Strauss, arranged and performed by Anthony Willis & Brett Bailey. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

On January 3rd 2026, the United States launched an audacious mission to capture Venezuelan president Nicolás Maduro and bring him back to the US to stand trial on charges related to "narcoterrorism". The operation has shocked the world, with some quarters celebrating the toppling of an illegitimate, authoritarian regime, and others decrying the flagrant abuse of international law. Has President Trump put the final nail in the coffin of the concept of international law? Or is there a defence for the operation via precedent or domestic law? The Law and Disorder trio – Charlie Falconer, Helena Kennedy and Nicholas Mostyn – assemble to discuss.If you have questions, criticisms, praise or other feedback, please do send your thoughts to us via [email protected]!Law and Disorder is a Podot podcast.Hosted by: Charlie Falconer, Helena Kennedy, Nicholas Mostyn.Executive Producer and Editor: Nick Hilton.Associate Producer: Ewan Cameron.Music by Richard Strauss, arranged and performed by Anthony Willis & Brett Bailey. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

2025 has been a hugely consequential year, with troubling assaults on the Rule of Law in the US as well as challenges to international law in the Middle East and Ukraine. Closer to home, the UK justice system continues to creak under the weight of the backlog. With so much happening, the Law & Disorder team gather (remotely) one last time for 2025, to look back over the past 12 months and ahead to the start of a new year. Are our legal norms being irreparably eroded? Or can the rules-based order reassert itself?If you want to enter the competition to win a signed copy of Edward Stourton's new book, please send your entries to [email protected]!Law and Disorder is a Podot podcast.Hosted by: Charlie Falconer, Helena Kennedy, Nicholas Mostyn.Executive Producer and Editor: Nick Hilton.Associate Producer: Ewan Cameron.Music by Richard Strauss, arranged and performed by Anthony Willis & Brett Bailey. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Should misconduct be taken into account when an equitable division of assets is being attempted following a divorce? That's the question we're dealing with today, as Nicholas Mostyn – and old hand in these affairs – and Helena Kennedy are joined by Anita Mehta, a barrister and co-host of Talking Family Law. Together they talk about the law as it was, is and could possibly be, as our understanding of complex issues like domestic abuse and coercive control evolve.If you have questions, criticisms, praise or other feedback, please do send your thoughts to us via [email protected]!Law and Disorder is a Podot podcast.Hosted by: Charlie Falconer, Helena Kennedy, Nicholas Mostyn.Executive Producer and Editor: Nick Hilton.Associate Producer: Ewan Cameron.Music by Richard Strauss, arranged and performed by Anthony Willis & Brett Bailey. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Baroness Brenda Hale is one of the most experienced legal minds in the country. Having served on the Supreme Court (including a stint as the first female President) she joins this week's podcast to reflect on her storied career, the times when she came up against certain podcast hosts in court, and some of the pressing issues facing the justice system, from the future of jury trials to the alleviation of the backlog. Witty, insightful and wise, Baroness Hale's life will prove an inspiration to many.If you have questions, criticisms, praise or other feedback, please do send your thoughts to us via [email protected]!Law and Disorder is a Podot podcast.Hosted by: Charlie Falconer, Helena Kennedy, Nicholas Mostyn.Executive Producer and Editor: Nick Hilton.Associate Producer: Ewan Cameron.Music by Richard Strauss, arranged and performed by Anthony Willis & Brett Bailey. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

There has been much in the news in recent years about undercover police work, with the public shocked by the level of intrusion permitted. Charlotte Kilroy KC, our guest today, is an expert on this subject, and has recently represented a woman, Beth, whose partner allegedly used his status as an informant for MI5 in order to inflict domestic abuse. In this wide-ranging discussion, the team look at the role of undercover personnel, the work of the Investigatory Powers Tribunal, and what balance must be struck between the question of national security and the safety and privacy of those coming into contact with subterfuge. If you have questions, criticisms, praise or other feedback, please do send your thoughts to us via [email protected]!Law and Disorder is a Podot podcast.Hosted by: Charlie Falconer, Helena Kennedy, Nicholas Mostyn.Executive Producer and Editor: Nick Hilton.Associate Producer: Ewan Cameron.Music by Richard Strauss, arranged and performed by Anthony Willis & Brett Bailey. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Last week, the Law & Disorder trio had the privilege of broadcasting live from Ripon Cathedral, where they debated a key question at the heart of proposals to revamp Britain's justice system: should jury trials be consigned to history? Or is there space for a hybrid system? Tied to suggestions made by Sir Brian Leveson, the team make their arguments for and against preserving a key part of Britain's common law system.This event was kindly sponsored by Irwin Mitchell solicitors.If you have questions, criticisms, praise or other feedback, please do send your thoughts to us via [email protected]!Law and Disorder is a Podot podcast.Hosted by: Charlie Falconer, Helena Kennedy, Nicholas Mostyn.Executive Producer and Editor: Nick Hilton.Associate Producer: Ewan Cameron.Music by Richard Strauss, arranged and performed by Anthony Willis & Brett Bailey. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Donald Trump is threatening to sue the BBC for a reported $5bn over the BBC's flagship Panorama programme's 'misleading' edit of one of his speeches. The President is claiming significant reputational damage stemmed from an injudicious edit which made it seem like he had directly incited the 6th January insurrection at the Capitol. But does he really have a case? How much money could the Beeb be on the hook for? Or is the American President using 'lawfare' to chill his media critics? Nicholas Mostyn, Charlie Falconer and Helena Kennedy gather to discuss this momentous collision of politics and the law.If you have questions, criticisms, praise or other feedback, please do send your thoughts to us via [email protected]!Law and Disorder is a Podot podcast.Hosted by: Charlie Falconer, Helena Kennedy, Nicholas Mostyn.Executive Producer and Editor: Nick Hilton.Associate Producer: Ewan Cameron.Music by Richard Strauss, arranged and performed by Anthony Willis & Brett Bailey. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The 2024 General Election feels a long time ago now – and must feel like another lifetime for Sir Keir Starmer – but one of the Labour party's flagship propositions, the new Employment Rights Bill, is inching its way towards the statute book. To discuss the implications (both for employers and employees), the Law & Disorder team are delighted to be joined by David Reade KC of Littleton Chambers, one of the UK's top employment barristers, who proves an expert guide through a thicket of legalisation with profound implications for how we all do business.This episode is generously sponsored by Tideway, specialists in pension drawdown, investment management, tax-efficient income, and much more.If you have questions, criticisms, praise or other feedback, please do send your thoughts to us via [email protected]!Law and Disorder is a Podot podcast.Hosted by: Charlie Falconer, Helena Kennedy, Nicholas Mostyn.Executive Producer and Editor: Nick Hilton.Associate Producer: Ewan Cameron.Music by Richard Strauss, arranged and performed by Anthony Willis & Brett Bailey. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Since we began work on Law & Disorder back at the start of 2024, the challenges surrounding Israel's war on Gaza have been front page news. Have the Israeli's committed war crimes? Does this constitute a genocide? And what levers are available to the international legal community? For two years, these issues have swirled, and in spite of a recent ceasefire, no proper resolution seems near. To discuss all of these issues, we're joined by Jonathan Sumption, one of Britain's leading lawyers and a former judge on the UK's Supreme Court. He has written on this issue, and sits down with Charlie, Helena and Nicholas to discuss and interrogate his views.You can purchase your ticket for our event at Ripon Cathedral, sponsored by Irwin Mitchell LLP, by clicking here.If you have questions, criticisms, praise or other feedback, please do send your thoughts to us via [email protected]!Law and Disorder is a Podot podcast.Hosted by: Charlie Falconer, Helena Kennedy, Nicholas Mostyn.Executive Producer and Editor: Nick Hilton.Associate Producer: Ewan Cameron.Music by Richard Strauss, arranged and performed by Anthony Willis & Brett Bailey. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In 1989, 97 people lost their lives in the Hillsborough disaster. The fight for justice, led by their families, has taken decades, and there are still huge failures of accountability. The cover-up after the disaster only served to exacerbate the pain of victims, and prevent justice being served. That's where the Public Office (Accountability) Bill, better known as the Hillsborough Law, comes in. Today on Law & Disorder we're joined by Pete Weatherby KC, who has represented the families of Hillsborough victims and is one of the architects of the law, to explain why new legislation is necessary, and what it could achieve.You can purchase your ticket for our event at Ripon Cathedral, sponsored by Irwin Mitchell LLP, by clicking here. If you have questions, criticisms, praise or other feedback, please do send your thoughts to us via [email protected]!Law and Disorder is a Podot podcast.Hosted by: Charlie Falconer, Helena Kennedy, Nicholas Mostyn.Executive Producer and Editor: Nick Hilton.Associate Producer: Ewan Cameron.Music by Richard Strauss, arranged and performed by Anthony Willis & Brett Bailey. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This summer, a superinjunction was lifted, following an independent review, which had prohibited reporting on a massive data breach relating to the possible evacuation of Afghans to the UK in the wake of the Taliban takeover there. The court battle, fought between a number of media organisations and the government, exposed the ways in which the law must strike a delicate balance between national security and transparency. Did they arrive at the correct result here? To discuss, the Law & Disorder trio are joined by Pia Sarma, Editorial Legal Director at Times Media Limited, who was a key player in the fight to bring these facts to light.Register for a ticket to Law & Disorder LIVE! – in association with Tideway – by clicking here.If you have questions, criticisms, praise or other feedback, please do send your thoughts to us via [email protected]!Law and Disorder is a Podot podcast.Hosted by: Charlie Falconer, Helena Kennedy, Nicholas Mostyn.Executive Producer and Editor: Nick Hilton.Associate Producer: Ewan Cameron.Music by Richard Strauss, arranged and performed by Anthony Willis & Brett Bailey. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Planet Tax – widely considered the most interesting and sexy domain in our galaxy – is the home of a a certain Dan Neidle. A former Head of Tax at Clifford Chance, Dan has become the country's most prominent tax vigilantes, holding public figures to account over their tax arrangements. This week, he talks us through two knotty, political tax affairs: Angela Rayner's failure to pay sufficient stamp duty on her home (which cost her her job in government) and seemingly similar shenanigans from one Nigel Farage. As ever, Dan is a witty and erudite guide through the British tax system. Register for a ticket to Law & Disorder LIVE! – in association with Tideway – by clicking here.If you have questions, criticisms, praise or other feedback, please do send your thoughts to us via [email protected]!Law and Disorder is a Podot podcast.Hosted by: Charlie Falconer, Helena Kennedy, Nicholas Mostyn.Executive Producer and Editor: Nick Hilton.Associate Producer: Ewan Cameron.Music by Richard Strauss, arranged and performed by Anthony Willis & Brett Bailey. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

SLAPPs: Strategic Litigation Against Public Participation. These lawsuits, often brought by the super wealthy, have been in the news a lot over the past few years, and, indeed, we've covered them before on the show. But today we're looking at it from the impact of the SLAPPee, in this case Charlotte Leslie, a former Tory MP and now Director of the Conservative Middle East Council. Her experiences shed a light on the impact these cases can have and the Kafkaesque nightmare of pursuing the truth in our Byzantine criminal justice system.Register for a ticket to Law & Disorder LIVE! – in association with Tideway – by clicking here.If you have questions, criticisms, praise or other feedback, please do send your thoughts to us via [email protected]!Law and Disorder is a Podot podcast.Hosted by: Charlie Falconer, Helena Kennedy, Nicholas Mostyn.Executive Producer and Editor: Nick Hilton.Associate Producer: Ewan Cameron.Music by Richard Strauss, arranged and performed by Anthony Willis & Brett Bailey. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Alastair Campbell has worn many hats: journalist, bagpiper, political operator, Burnley ultra, and, most recently, podcaster. This varied CV has brought him into frequent contact with power and infrequent contact with the law. In this episode, a wide-ranging season opener, he talks candidly with Charlie, Helena and Nick about his life in politics, his fears for the current state of play, and his optimism about how things can be turned around. The conversation covers everything from comparisons between Keir Starmer and Tony Blair and thoughts for combatting Reform, to whether he got on with Jonathan Sumption during the Hutton inquiry!Register for a ticket to Law & Disorder LIVE! – in association with Tideway – by clicking here.If you have questions, criticisms, praise or other feedback, please do send your thoughts to us via [email protected]!Law and Disorder is a Podot podcast.Hosted by: Charlie Falconer, Helena Kennedy, Nicholas Mostyn.Executive Producer and Editor: Nick Hilton.Associate Producer: Ewan Cameron.Music by Richard Strauss, arranged and performed by Anthony Willis & Brett Bailey. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Birthright citizenship is an important Constitutional right in the United States, but one that is increasingly challenged under the second Trump presidency. In this episode, we re-convene with David D. Cole, a top constitutional lawyer and former Legal Director of the ACLU, to discuss the case of Trump v CASA, a Supreme Court case which addressed whether lower courts could issue 'universal injunctions' to block nationwide enforcement of policies, and more generally how the Supreme Court is managing the tricky relationship with the man in the Oval Office.If you have questions, criticisms, praise or other feedback, please do send your thoughts to us via [email protected]!Law and Disorder is a Podot podcast.Hosted by: Charlie Falconer, Helena Kennedy, Nicholas Mostyn.Executive Producer and Editor: Nick Hilton.Associate Producer: Ewan Cameron.Music by Richard Strauss, arranged and performed by Anthony Willis & Brett Bailey. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Few social issues have proven quite as controversial or emotional as the fraught subject of gender dysphoria treatment for minors. In both the UK and US, the question has vexed doctors, lawyers and politicians. The balance between the medical and psychological wellbeing of trans youngsters presents unique challenges for physicians and legislators, and it feels like we are yet to alight upon a compassionate solution. To discuss, the Law & Disorder team are joined by two great experts from either side of the pond. David D. Cole is a top US constitutional lawyer and former National Legal Director of the ACLU, who has brought challenges to the absolutist position of American state legislators; Hilary Cass is a retired paediatrician and author of the Cass Review into gender care in England, who now sits alongside Charlie and Helena in the House of Lords. In this discussion, they probe the position of both courts and the medical services, in the hope that clarity might be found in such a challenging issue.If you have questions, criticisms, praise or other feedback, please do send your thoughts to us via [email protected]!Law and Disorder is a Podot podcast.Hosted by: Charlie Falconer, Helena Kennedy, Nicholas Mostyn.Executive Producer and Editor: Nick Hilton.Associate Producer: Ewan Cameron.Music by Richard Strauss, arranged and performed by Anthony Willis & Brett Bailey. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Donald Trump is desecrating the United States' fundamental belief in due process – or, at least, he's trying to. Standing in his way are a number of obstacles, including the constitution, the courts, and his former comms director, Anthony Scaramucci, who has become a vociferous critic of his old boss. After just 11 days in the role – a unit of time now known as "a Scaracmucci" – Anthony was sacked and liberated to pursuit a vibrant media career that has seen him become an internationally recognised truth-teller. He joins the podcast this week to reflect on Trump's second term, America's historical relationship with the rule of law, and whether democracy is imperilled by forces within the White House.If you have questions, criticisms, praise or other feedback, please do send your thoughts to us via [email protected]!Law and Disorder is a Podot podcast.Hosted by: Charlie Falconer, Helena Kennedy, Nicholas Mostyn.Executive Producer and Editor: Nick Hilton.Associate Producer: Ewan Cameron.Music by Richard Strauss, arranged and performed by Anthony Willis & Brett Bailey. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Why is cannabis illegal in the UK? This is a vexed question that dates back to colonial times but continues to be a hot button issue in the present day. Indeed, Charlie Falconer recently chaired a report for the London Drugs Commission on this very topic, recommending that cannabis possession be decriminalised but dealing remain outlawed. Is this an elegant solution or a mealy-mouthed fudge? To debate the issue, Charlie is joined by his regular companions – Nicholas Mostyn and Helena Kennedy – as well as Professor Mike Barnes, a renowned neurologist with a particular interest in medical cannabis, and Peter Reynolds, president of the cannabis campaign group CLEAR UK.If you have questions, criticisms, praise or other feedback, please do send your thoughts to us via [email protected]!Law and Disorder is a Podot podcast.Hosted by: Charlie Falconer, Helena Kennedy, Nicholas Mostyn.Executive Producer and Editor: Nick Hilton.Associate Producer: Ewan Cameron.Music by Richard Strauss, arranged and performed by Anthony Willis & Brett Bailey. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Is sports a law unto itself? That's the question posed this week, as the Law & Disorder crew are joined by Nick De Marco KC, perhaps the UK's top sports lawyer. Nick has worked on cases ranging from corrupt cricketers to fiscally feckless football clubs, and offers here a tour d'horizon of the landscape in sports and the law. Should betting companies offer markets on yellow cards? Did Jannick Sinner get off lightly with his doping ban? Will a judgment ever be delivered on Manchester City's PSR violations? Nick, along with Nicholas Mostyn, Helena Kennedy and Charlie Falconer, knock all these issues for six on an end-to-end episode of Law & Disorder.If you have questions, criticisms, praise or other feedback, please do send your thoughts to us via [email protected]!Law and Disorder is a Podot podcast.Hosted by: Charlie Falconer, Helena Kennedy, Nicholas Mostyn.Executive Producer and Editor: Nick Hilton.Associate Producer: Ewan Cameron.Music by Richard Strauss, arranged and performed by Anthony Willis & Brett Bailey. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Media freedom around the world has never been more embattled. A rise in violence perpetrated against journalists and media proprietors has been accompanied by a significant surge in the use of 'lawfare', frivolous but destructive lawsuits designed to silence and intimidate. To discuss this crisis, the Law & Disorder team are joined by Caoilfhionn Gallagher KC, a leading lawyer representing accused or imprisoned journalists or bereaved families, and Sebastien Lai, the son of Jimmy Lai, a Hong Kong businessman and media entrepreneur who has been imprisoned by authorities. Caoifhionn and Sebastien discuss their own struggle to free Jimmy Lai from where he is being held in solitary confinement, a case which illuminates the current assault on the rights and safety of those who hold the powerful to account.If you have questions, criticisms, praise or other feedback, please do send your thoughts to us via [email protected]!Law and Disorder is a Podot podcast.Hosted by: Charlie Falconer, Helena Kennedy, Nicholas Mostyn.Executive Producer and Editor: Nick Hilton.Associate Producer: Ewan Cameron.Music by Richard Strauss, arranged and performed by Anthony Willis & Brett Bailey. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

With climate change an ever increasing priority for people and governments around the globe, it is necessarily becoming a major part of our legal system. How do treaties like the Paris Agreement bind countries to climate goals? Can people – old and young – use the law to hold the state to account over climate action? And, in a world where climate change denial is increasingly mainstream from politicians, can the law offer a check to the spread of that rhetoric? To discuss all this, Nicholas, Helena and Charlie are joined by Lord Carnwath, to discuss everything from Donald Trump's denialism to Tony Blair's interventions.If you have questions, criticisms, praise or other feedback, please do send your thoughts to us via [email protected]!Law and Disorder is a Podot podcast.Hosted by: Charlie Falconer, Helena Kennedy, Nicholas Mostyn.Executive Producer and Editor: Nick Hilton.Associate Producer: Ewan Cameron.Music by Richard Strauss, arranged and performed by Anthony Willis & Brett Bailey. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Tariffs: a word that has become, in the past few months, a political hot potato. With US President Donald Trump slapping major tariffs on countries all around the world, the Law & Disorder crew gather to consider these moves in their historical context and probe their legality. Nicholas Mostyn and Charlie Falconer are – regrettably – missing Helena this week, but we have two guests to compensate: Thomas Sebastian, barrister and expert in tariffs, and Edward Stourton, presenter of Radio 4's Sunday, who is currently writing a book about American political history.If you have questions, criticisms, praise or other feedback, please do send your thoughts to us via [email protected]!Law and Disorder is a Podot podcast.Hosted by: Charlie Falconer, Helena Kennedy, Nicholas Mostyn.Executive Producer and Editor: Nick Hilton.Associate Producer: Ewan Cameron.Music by Richard Strauss, arranged and performed by Anthony Willis & Brett Bailey. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Until recently, there was no real pressure on parties to mediate before an issue went to court. It has created an expensive, and often destructive, dynamic. But now, there is a concerted movement to introduce more "non-court" options, from mediation and arbitration to third party evaluation and collaborative law. To discuss this attempt to innovate in a calcified field, the Law & Disorder trio are joined by two revolutionaries in the area: Karen Barham, solicitor mediator at Moore Barlow, and Tom Carter, a barrister at 1 Hare Court.If you have questions, criticisms, praise or other feedback, please do send your thoughts to us via [email protected]!Law and Disorder is a Podot podcast.Hosted by: Charlie Falconer, Helena Kennedy, Nicholas Mostyn.Executive Producer and Editor: Nick Hilton.Associate Producer: Ewan Cameron.Music by Richard Strauss, arranged and performed by Anthony Willis & Brett Bailey. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Earlier this spring, Sir Nicholas headed off to Chamonix for a conference of family lawyers. There, he delivered a speech titled "The Law is Above You". But is it? In this episode, we'll play an extract from that speech and spark a conversation with Charlie and Helena about the Trump administration's myriad abuses of power, and whether the law can be play a role in preventing further injustices.If you have questions, criticisms, praise or other feedback, please do send your thoughts to us via [email protected]!Law and Disorder is a Podot podcast.Hosted by: Charlie Falconer, Helena Kennedy, Nicholas Mostyn.Executive Producer and Editor: Nick Hilton.Associate Producer: Ewan Cameron.Music by Richard Strauss, arranged and performed by Anthony Willis & Brett Bailey. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.