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 Goad

Music 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.