Litigation/Dispute Resolution
“Logjam” of old High Court cases “blocking new disputes”
A “logjam” of old cases at the High Court, with more than a quarter of cases taking up to three years to resolve, could be the reason for a “slight drop-off” in new actions last year.
Chartered legal executives could get standalone litigation rights
CILEx Regulation has launched plans for chartered legal executives to obtain standalone rights to conduct litigation without having to seek rights of audience at the same time.
Gender disparity in publicly funded advocacy – only CPS making progress
Efforts by the Crown Prosecution Service to ensure it allocates work more equitably between the sexes are slowly bearing fruit, a new analysis has shown.
SRA: Claims firms “destabilised” by litigation funding deals
Relationships with litigation funders are destabilising some high-volume consumer claims law firms, the Solicitors Regulation Authority has warned.
DWF accused of data protection breaches in battle with claimant firm
Solicitors for leading insurers have been accused of data protection breaches in collating evidence about the way a North London firm pursued personal injury claims.
Lawyers and lenders agog as Supreme Court hears motor finance case
All eyes are on the Supreme Court this morning as it begins a three-day hearing on motor finance commissions that could open up or close down a major new source of legal work.
Judge attacks process-driven approach to credit hire claims
A senior district judge has again attacked credit hire claims, as well as a process-driven approach to bringing them, in a case where he awarded £1,200 for a claim valued at £50,200.
Oligarch’s ex-wife drops negligence claim against former solicitors
Top family law firm Payne Hicks Beach has expressed itself “pleased but not surprised” by the decision of a high-profile former client to drop her negligence action against it.
Ex-law firm owner obtains freezing order against successor
The High Court has issued a freezing order against the non-lawyer owner of a law firm the SRA shut down last year, at the behest of the solicitor who sold it to her.
Public would be “shocked” by how credit hire works, says judge
The public would be “shocked” to learn how the credit hire industry operates, a senior district judge has suggested in a case where he had to award £55,000 for an unnecessary 96-day car hire.
Blog
Divorce escrow: asset sales before final settlement
When significant matrimonial assets are sold before a final financial order is agreed, holding the proceeds safely and neutrally can present real practical challenges.
AML lacks clarity – and standards are suffering
If firms are buckling under the pressure of AML regulations, subject to ever-increasing fines, then something is clearly not working as it should be.
The power of participation for trainees and apprentices
It’s important as a trainee or an apprentice to get involved in the life of your firm – even under the pressure of discovering how to navigate professional life and now the demands of the SQE.
