Litigation/Dispute Resolution
Suspended jail sentence for client over unpaid Farrer & Co bill
The High Court has issued a suspended jail sentence for contempt against a high-profile entrepreneur who owes London law firm Farrer & Co £200,000 in unpaid fees.
More money and an ‘initial litigation offering’ – funding boom goes on
Litigation funder Balance Legal Capital has raised £130m in the first close for a new fund as we round up developments in the funding world, including an ‘initial legal offering’ to the public.
Vos issues stern warning to chambers and law firms about embargoes
The Court of Appeal has issued a stern warning about breaking embargoes on judgments after a leading chambers accidentally issued a press release a day before the ruling was handed down.
Press panel pleads with government to introduce legal costs incentive
The government’s failure to commence legislation on costs in libel and other publication proceedings is denying members of the public justice, the Press Recognition Panel has argued.
Judge’s despair at solicitors acting “like schoolchildren in the playground”
The High Court has expressed its despair at solicitors conducting litigation “like schoolchildren in the playground”, as well as “pernicious” growth of satellite costs disputes.
Network launched to link “lonely” class representatives
A network has been launched today to support class representatives, who have the “lonely” task of representing huge numbers of consumers in competition claims.
MoJ consults again on international mediation convention
The Ministry of Justice has launched a second consultation on whether the UK should join the Singapore Convention, which deals with commercial mediation agreements.
Compulsory ADR needed for smallest claims, says CJC
ADR should be compulsory for claims worth less than £500, the Civil Justice Council has said. Claimants who refuse to mediate should have their claims stayed for a period and then struck out.
Written advice could have avoided negligence claim, courts tells firm
A law firm might have avoided a professional negligence case if its senior partner had provided more advice in writing rather than orally, the High Court has said.
Solicitor/own client disputes “continue to keep costs specialists busy”
A large number of costs lawyers continue to see their practices boom amid more people challenging the fees they paid to their former solicitors, new research has found.
Blog
The SRA’s client money reforms: good intentions, questionable execution
On the face of it, the SRA’s plans to tighten protections around client money sounds sensible. The detail, as ever, tells a more complicated story.
Recruitment, retention and reward in the legal accounts world
Understanding the legal finance market is important – not just for those actively involved in it day-to-day but also for leaders within law firms.
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.
