In the recent case, the Court of Appeal ruled on what constituted the conduct of litigation and what non-regulated individuals could and could not do under supervision from regulated lawyers. This ruling is key for ICAEW accredited legal services firms carrying out probate work, as well as estate administration, although later is not a reserved activity.

The Mazur v Charles Russell Speechlys LLP & Others [2026] EWCA Civ 369 case concerned the proper meaning of the words ‘carry on the conduct of litigation’ as used in the Legal Services Act 2007 and focused on the supervision of the individual lawyer.

The Court of Appeal had to consider the question of whether people working in a law firm or a law centre, who are not themselves authorised individuals under the Act (unauthorised persons), are carrying on the conduct of litigation if they do so under the supervision of an authorised individual.