A series of three seminars looking at litigation around cryptocurrency, featuring the Chancellor of the High Court of England & Wales, Sir Colin Birss, and local lawyers with expertise in the subject area. The seminars will be hosted by HHJ Richard Pearce, Judge in Charge of the Circuit Commercial Court in Manchester and acting DCJ.

Seminar 3 – 11 June 2026 from 5.30pm to 6.30pm at Addleshaw Goddard:

One St Peter’s Square, Manchester, M2 3DE

Final remedies in crypto cases

Speakers include:

Mark Harper KC, Kings Chambers

Victoria Roberts, 18 St John Street Chambers

In-Person Only Seminar [SOLD OUT]

4 June 2026
8.30am - 9.15am
Brabners, 100 Barbirolli Square, Manchester

Enforcing (and Resisting) Restrictive Covenants

Suzi Gardener, Brabners
Rebecca Jones, 23ES

The speakers will be considering restrictive covenants in employment contracts. The session will provide a practical overview of how post-termination restrictions operate and what courts look for when determining enforceability, including when considering injunctive relief. The speakers will also discuss recent case law and highlight current proposals for reform in this area.

This is the latest event in the Forum’s series and the first event of 2026. The aim of the series is to provide junior practitioners with an overview of particularly pertinent topics as well as to provide an update and discussion on recent cases of significance.

A series of three seminars looking at litigation around cryptocurrency, featuring the Chancellor of the High Court of England & Wales, Sir Colin Birss, and local lawyers with expertise in the subject area. The seminars will be hosted by HHJ Richard Pearce, Judge in Charge of the Circuit Commercial Court in Manchester and acting DCJ.

Seminar 2 – 21 May 2026 from 5.30pm to 6.30pm at Hill Dickinson:

1 St Michael’s, 36 Jacksons Row, Manchester, M2 5WD

Interim remedies in crypto cases

Speakers include:

Sir Colin Birss, Chancellor of the High Court of England & Wales

A roleplay of an interim application with Julius Klutse (Exchange Chambers) and Qasver Khan (23ES Chambers)

A series of three seminars looking at litigation around cryptocurrency, featuring the Chancellor of the High Court of England & Wales, Sir Colin Birss, and local lawyers with expertise in the subject area. The seminars will be hosted by HHJ Richard Pearce, Judge in Charge of the Circuit Commercial Court in Manchester and acting DCJ.

Seminar 1 – 14 May 2026 from 5.30pm to 6.30pm at 23ES Chambers:

41 Spring Gardens, Manchester M2 2BG

Cryptocurrencies and blockchain: understanding the technology and the jargon

Speakers include:

Professor John Haskell, University of Manchester

Jonathan Ward, Kings Chambers

Craig Smith, University of Salford

26 March 2026
Kimpton Clocktower Hotel, Manchester

The Laws of Contract & Unjust Enrichment in 2026

The BICBA Annual Conference is returning to Manchester in 2026. It will follow the usual format of a day of informative talks and panel sessions, with an outstanding line-up of special guests and speakers from across the four jurisdictions, including:

Lord Burrows JSC, UK Supreme Court
Woulfe J, Supreme Court of Ireland
Barniville J, President of the High Court of Ireland
Henshaw J, Head of the Commercial Court in England & Wales
Birss LJ, The Chancellor of the High Court of England & Wales
Humphreys J, High Court of Northern Ireland
Representatives of the Scottish senior courts

Plus many other senior members of the judiciary, practitioners and other experts, providing insight into this important area of commercial law.

In-Person Only Seminar [SOLD OUT]

4 March 2026
8.30am - 9.15am
Kings Chambers, Manchester

Enforcing your contractual rights: the contractual right to recover costs and CPR r44.5

Ian Cooper, Kings Chambers
Sam Garrett, Glaisyers

Practitioners will be very familiar with their contracts including a contractual right to recover costs from the other side. Ian Cooper and Sam Garrett will be talking you through how these clauses are treated by the courts, with a particular focus on CPR r44.5. The session promises to be a practically focussed talk, with a number of tips and tricks to optimise the enforceability of your clause.

This is the latest event in the Forum’s series and the first event of 2026. The aim of the series is to provide junior practitioners with an overview of particularly pertinent topics as well as to provide an update and discussion on recent cases of significance.

The event will be in-person only and is taking place at Kings Chambers, Manchester.

This event will start at 8:30am and finish at 9:15am with refreshments available from 8:15am.

In-Person Only Seminar [SOLD OUT]

26 February 2026
5.00pm for a 5.30pm start
Brabners LLP, Manchester

Freezing Injunctions: How has the climate changed?

The Vice-Chancellor, Mr Justice Leech
Andrew Grantham KC, Kings Chambers

Is the ice melting and are they too easy to get? But is it getting so hot that they are difficult to keep? How are the water levels rising and what are the major issues?

The Manchester Business and Property Courts

Forum is delighted to welcome the Vice-Chancellor, Mr Justice Leech, and Andrew Grantham KC, who will provide their own weather forecast from the Bench and the Bar.

The event will in-person only, held at Brabners LLP, 100 Barbirolli Square, Manchester, M2 3BN. This event will start at 5:30pm, with registration from 5:00pm, followed by drinks.

Seminar [SOLD OUT]

20 January 2026
5.30pm - 6.30pm
Exchange Chambers, Manchester

Boundaries - The Final Frontiers

Brynmor Adams, Exchange Chambers
Manchester

Brynmor Adams of Exchange Chambers appeared in two important appeals concerning the law of boundaries: Ridley v Brown in the Supreme Court and Alder v White in the Court of Appeal.

These cases laid to rest two of the main outstanding controversies in the law of boundaries. In this talk to the forum, Brynmor will explain where the law of boundaries stands at the start of 2026 and consider what areas of uncertainty remain to be explored in the future.

This event will be in-person only and is taking place at Exchange Chambers, 201 Deansgate. The talk will start at 17:30 and finish at 18:30, followed by drinks.