Litigation/Dispute Resolution
Judge acts to enforce deal between squabbling law firm owners
The High Court has made cross-examination and disclosure orders to enforce a consent order made in the wake of a nine-year dispute between solicitors over the winding down of their law firm.
Guideline hourly rates to rise in January as Vos implements CJC review
The Master of the Rolls today publicly accepted the recommendations of the Civil Justice Council’s costs review, starting with an increase in the guideline hourly rates in January.
High Court laments “wholly unacceptable” last-minute adjournment
A Commercial Court judge has blamed a claimant “in large part” for the “wholly unacceptable” last-minute adjournment of their case after he had begun pre-reading for it.
Government plan to address PACCAR “does not go far enough”
Lawyers and litigation funders have expressed disappointment at the government’s legislative proposal to address the Supreme Court’s PACCAR ruling.
High Court rejects GLO after law firm’s “wholesale failure”
The High Court has rejected an application by Welsh firm Hugh James for a group litigation order in the face of objections from 18 other law firms.
Prospect of paying fees “overcomes litigation funding scepticism”
Nearly two-thirds of consumers would prefer litigation funders to take a share of their compensation from class actions than pay legal fees, research has found.
Government eyes £42m boost through 10% court fees rise
The government is set to recoup up to £42m a year more in court fees after proposing a 10% increase in over 200 fees. It also plans biennial inflation increases in future.
Disbarred barrister faces jail for contempt over work as McKenzie Friend
A disbarred barrister is facing jail for contempt of court after failing to comply with a court order relating to allegations of misconduct while acting as a McKenzie Friend.
Court of Appeal to conclude hearing on compulsory ADR
The Court of Appeal will today conclude a three-day hearing on whether the courts can stay proceedings and require parties to engage in ADR as a condition of being able to continue their claims.
Make sure junior counsel get time on their feet, judges told
The heads of the judiciary have told judges and instructing solicitors to give junior counsel who are being led every chance to address the court as well.
Blog
From ‘year zero’ to £6.5m – how a law firm found its second life
In 2018, I hit what I call ‘year zero’. On paper, Olliers Solicitors was a top-tier criminal defence firm but beneath the surface, I could see we were at a crossroads.
Linklaters’ chief growth officer takes the ‘blank sheet’ challenge
In the third and final part of this series, Lucy Murphy, chief growth officer at magic circle firm Linklaters, outlines her vision for the law firm of the future.
The ‘blank sheet’ challenge, part 2 – what would you do differently?
In the second part of this blog series, Shainul Kassam, managing director of small London firm Fortune Law, sets out how she would set up a law firm now.
