Litigation/Dispute Resolution
Law firm to pay wasted costs after failing to address claim problems
A law firm that continued cases against defendants without investigating claims they were the wrong parties has been ordered to pay wasted costs.
Solicitor fails in challenge to judge’s finding of “indefensible” conduct
The Court of Appeal has rejected a solicitor’s challenge to judicial criticism of his “indefensible” conduct, motivated by money, in using leaked privileged material to help win an arbitration.
CHOs should pay when credit hire claims fail, appeal court holds
Credit hire organisations are the real beneficiary of claims to recover their charges and so should pay the defendants’ costs when cases fail, the Court of Appeal has ruled.
Funder challenges charity’s £30m “windfall” from Mastercard settlement
The Access to Justice Foundation should not make more out of the Mastercard settlement than the funder who took all the risks, the High Court has been told.
Group litigation “could cost the UK economy £18bn”
The rise of group litigation in the UK could cost the economy almost £18bn, a free market thinktank based in Brussels has estimated.
Suspension for solicitor who acted on both sides of case
A solicitor whose firm acted for both sides in litigation over a debt, despite him being told of the obvious conflict, has been suspended for six months.
Call to expand remit of inquiries amid debate over “too many lawyers”
Expanding the remit of public inquiries to award compensation, prefer criminal indictments and recommend regulatory sanctions, could improve their effectiveness, the head of the Post Office inquiry team has said.
Arbitrators who use AI warned against “cognitive inertia”
Arbitrators who use artificial intelligence in their decisions have been warned against “cognitive inertia” in new guidelines from the Chartered Institute of Arbitrators.
Court issues stark warning to lawyers over AI-generated fake cases
The president of the King’s Bench Division today issued a stark warning to lawyers about the serious consequences they will face for misusing AI before the courts.
Profession welcomes CJC report – except FCA oversight of law firms
This week’s Civil Justice Council report on litigation funding has received a positive reaction from the profession, except the idea of the FCA co-regulating law firms with ‘portfolio funding’.
Blog
The importance of benchmarking reports – and lessons on profitability
Regional firms reported the largest revenue growth this year (12%), outpacing their City counterparts. Yet many are not converting that growth into profitability.
Fixed recoverable costs: Sacrificing justice for predictability?
The extended fixed recoverable costs regime is failing to achieve its stated objectives. Instead of promoting fairness and efficiency, the rules are creating anomalies that undermine justice.
Expectations keep rising, so prioritise client experience
Law firms are facing growing pressure to place greater focus on client experience or risk falling behind in an increasingly competitive legal market.
