Litigation/Dispute Resolution
Solicitors cannot use lien to block disclosure of file in negligence claim
A law firm being sued by for negligence cannot use its lien over a file for unpaid fees to overcome its obligation to disclose the file to its former client, the High Court has ruled.
Firm had no duty to advise prospective client before CFA was signed
Leading law firm Irwin Mitchell was not under a duty to advise a prospective client to notify their travel agent about an accident on holiday until the retainer was signed, the High Court has ruled.
Time taken to get civil cases to trial reaches all-time high
The time between issue and trial for fast- and multi-track claims has hit 75 weeks, the longest this century, according to government figures published yesterday.
Need for specialist IP solicitors meets new “clear and compelling” costs test
A party that needed specialist intellectual property advice was justified in using lawyers who charged significantly above the guideline hourly rates, the High Court has decided.
Firm fails in bid for injunction to stop use of letter it disclosed in error
The High Court has refused a leading law firm an injunction to stop an opposing party making a use of a document it disclosed by mistake that cast doubt on an expert’s independence.
High Court strikes out LiP’s “vexatious” fraud claim against solicitor
The High Court has struck out a “vexatious” and “abusive” fraud claim by a litigant in person, seeking £160,000 in damages from a solicitor over a 17-year-old property dispute.
SRA set to curb litigators’ use of ‘private and confidential’ letters
The Solicitors Regulation Authority is to issue guidance on when litigators are allowed to label letters as ‘private and confidential’ and/or ‘without prejudice’.
Court throws out £1.3m claim against City firm over service failure
The High Court has thrown out a negligence claim for almost £1.3m served on a City law firm after the time limit for service had expired.
Barrister’s witness statement transcription tool trained in legal English
The first transcription tool specifically designed for witness statements has been launched this summer, after the AI was trained to cope with legal language such as “my learned friend”.
Multi-billion-pound class actions target video games and cryptocurrency
Two giant opt-out actions have been filed at the Competition Appeal Tribunal, claiming billions of pounds in damages on behalf of users of Sony PlayStation video games and cryptocurrency investors.
Blog
The trade-off mid-sized firm partners think they’re making
Most of the partners I talk to describe the same tension. They want the firm to run efficiently and hit its numbers, but they also want their people to feel supported, developed and fairly treated.
Communication as the core of client care in conveyancing
How a conveyancer approaches client care – particularly in relation to communication – can be the greatest differentiator for the success of a conveyancing firm.
Why brilliant lawyers sometimes fail
A question that often strikes a chord with partners in law firms is this: why is it that individuals who excel in one role sometimes struggle when promoted into another?
Reports
Associates
