Litigation/Dispute Resolution

A High Court ruling casting uncertainty over the immunity of advocates for what they say and do in court could have a “chilling effect”, the Bar Council has warned.

The High Court has thrown out a £7.2m negligence claim brought against a law firm over its conduct of its client’s negligence claim against his previous lawyers.

The legal profession has strongly backed the recommendation of the justice select committee for an urgent review of the county court.

The county court is a “dysfunctional operation that has failed to adequately deliver civil justice across England and Wales”, MPs said today in a damning report.

The Solicitors Regulation Authority is to demand assurances from firms conducting volume consumer claims that they are meeting their professional obligations.

Consumer claims law firm Barings says it is already working with 1,000 people affected by the Afghan data breach, while Leigh Day says claimants will retain at least 70% of damages.

The Judicial Appointments Commission was wrong to adopt a practice of never putting negative material to a candidate save in exceptional circumstances, the Court of Appeal has ruled.

Public expectations of compensation over motor finance mis-selling are running “very high”, according to research published by Slater & Gordon.

Access to justice is “improving” and people are “surprised when they use the new systems which we’ve put in place” how easy to use they are, the Master of the Rolls has told peers.

“Further forms” of accreditation for expert witnesses beyond the existing MedCo scheme in personal injury could be “worthy of consideration”, the deputy head of civil justice has said.