Litigation/Dispute Resolution
Judge rules public access barristers’ payment terms unfair
Two public access barristers have failed in their bid to be paid nearly £125,000 in fees after the High Court found the terms of their retainer unfair.
Court rejects bid to draw listed business into its law firm’s costs dispute
A court has rejected an application for a non-party costs order against listed legal and credit hire business Anexo Group over the work of its subsidiary law firm.
First settlement of opt-out class action set for approval hearing
The first application to settle an opt-out class action since the regime began in 2015 has been lodged with the Competition Appeal Tribunal.
Law Society eyes solicitors’ consortia to run legal advice helplines
The Law Society is set to examine creating consortia of solicitors to run subscription-funded legal advice helplines as part of proposals to “fix” the civil justice system.
Sanctioned company has “right to access courts”, appeal judges rule
The Court of Appeal has rejected a Russian tycoon’s bid to stay an $850m claim brought against him by two Russian banks, despite one being sanctioned, citing the right to access the courts.
Law firm loses out on $3m after CA rejects bid to sever part of CFA
A law firm which charged its client nearly $3m under an unenforceable conditional fee agreement has to repay the money after failing to sever the offending clause, the Court of Appeal has ruled.
Class action specialists secure biggest ever law firm financing deal
Pogust Goodhead has set its sights on becoming the biggest consumer class action law firm in the world after unveiling a landmark $553m (£453m) financing deal.
Court stops firm using fees generated by claims joint venture
The High Court has ordered a law firm not to use fees from a PPI claims joint venture now the subject of a dispute, despite it warning that this could put it out of business.
Experts hit out at 20-page limit on reports in intermediate track
Expert witnesses have made a last-minute call to scrap the rule in the new intermediate track for civil claims that limits their reports to 20 pages.
High Court judge: Counsel’s fees should be subject to guideline rates
It is “difficult to see the justification for treating counsel’s fees differently from solicitors’ fees” when it comes to applying guideline hourly rates, a High Court judge said yesterday.
Blog
Regulate sole practices on evidence, not turnover
For a sole practice, the SRA’s plan that I cannot hold a compliance role if my firm has more than £600,000 of turnover is not a measure of risk. It is a ceiling on growth.
Is Google becoming pay-to-play for law firms?
For years, law firms have been told that SEO is the long-term alternative to paying for every click. That principle hasn’t disappeared but search results have changed significantly.
Material information and the case for intelligent client onboarding
Upfront information means work traditionally undertaken after an offer is accepted will need to happen earlier. And that fundamentally changes the role of client onboarding.
Reports
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