Broadgate Legal, News

08/10/25

Harrods has allocated more than £60 million to compensate former employees who were victims of abuse by its former owner, Mohamed Al Fayed.

Over 100 ex-staff members are expected to file claims of up to £385,000 each under a redress scheme established by the luxury department store. The initiative, which remains open until March 2026, was launched to support individuals abused during Al Fayed's ownership between 1985 and 2010.

29/09/25

Police officers in Britain's largest force may soon be required to declare if they are Freemasons, under new plans being considered by the Metropolitan Police.

The force has launched a consultation on adding Freemasonry to its list of "declarable associations" amid concerns that membership could affect investigations, promotions or misconduct cases.

28/08/25

A former Citibank executive and her husband are taking legal action against builders over claims their £3 million Surrey home was so poorly constructed it is uninhabitable.

Lisa and Tim Klaver have filed a High Court claim against North Downs Construction, alleging 69 separate defects in the property near Farnham. Problems are said to include issues with timber cladding, the terrace, balcony, roof, external walls, windows, doors, basement tanking, and structural steelwork.

23/07/25

A landmark piece of fashion history has just shattered records. The original prototype of the Hermès Birkin bag—designed in 1984 for actress and style icon Jane Birkin—has sold for an astonishing €8.6 million (£7.4 million) at Sotheby's Fashion Icons sale in Paris.

The bidding war was fierce, with speculation swirling around high-profile names, including newlywed Lauren Sánchez, wife of Amazon founder Jeff Bezos. In the end, the winning bid came not from the Bezos camp, but from a private Japanese collector participating by phone.

19/06/25

Jodie Marsh, former glamour model and animal sanctuary owner, has won a legal appeal allowing her to keep eight ring-tailed lemurs at her sanctuary in Essex.

The 46-year-old had applied for a wild animal licence to house the lemurs at Fripps Farm in Lindsell. However, Uttlesford District Council initially refused the application, citing concerns over noise disturbances. Marsh challenged the decision in court.