Litigation/Dispute Resolution
High Court broadens scope of legal advice privilege
The High Court has widened legal advice privilege to all internal documents created by the client where the dominant purpose is to seek legal advice, even if they would not actually be sent to a lawyer.
Prison sentence for former executor who refused law firm’s requests
The High Court has imposed a suspended prison sentence on a former executor who failed to comply with court orders by not providing information to a law firm.
Declarations on AI in witness statements “would reduce efficiency”
Making litigators declare that they did not use AI in preparing witness statements would “reduce the efficiency that AI has introduced in certain tasks”, says APIL.
Law Society trains focus on SRA for Mazur supervision guidance
The Law Society has put the focus on the SRA to give the profession guidance on what amounts to supervision following the Mazur ruling.
Top City firm ordered to pay wasted costs over instruction error
A leading City law firm has been ordered to pay wasted costs in a maritime matter because it wrongly told the defendants that it was instructed by the claimant’s insurer.
Claimants can have two law firms for £85m Vodafone claim
A High Court judge has agreed to let 62 former Vodafone franchisees be represented by two law firms in their £85m claim against the mobile phone company.
Mazur: Law Society still mulling appeal as SRA reviews investigations
The Law Society has yet to decide whether to appeal last week’s Mazur ruling, while the SRA is reviewing investigations that followed the High Court ruling.
Judge: Unqualified agency advocates “risk undermining legal system”
The use of unqualified advocates by agencies has “the potential to undermine the integrity of the legal system”, a judge has ruled.
Solicitor develops free software to organise court bundles
A City solicitor has invented free software that aims to make producing PDF court bundles hassle-free for lawyers and litigants in person alike.
Cockerill: Costs budgeting ‘lite’ pilots set for expansion
The costs budgeting ‘lite’ pilots have proven popular with both judges and users in their first year, and are likely to be expanded, the Deputy Head of Civil Justice has revealed.
Blog
The SRA needs to admit it got it wrong about SLAPPs
The High Court judgment in Ashley Hurst v SRA in January raises serious questions about the regulator’s approach to allegations of SLAPP-like behaviour.
Why menopause support belongs on every law firm’s agenda
Progression in the law slows significantly as women approach senior leadership. Most will be at the height of their careers around the average age menopause symptoms begin.
Law firms need to go beyond document checks
At the root of every failed compliance review is a familiar phrase: a calm assertion of “but we did a document check”.
