Litigation/Dispute Resolution
Senior judge questions effectiveness of costs sanctions
The deputy head of civil justice has questioned the use of costs sanctions as a way to control litigation behaviour and hinted he would like to see the costs rules simplified.
Burford puts $100m aside to fund litigation run by diverse lawyers
Litigation funder Burford Capital has expanded its initiative to increase diversity in the law by committing $100m (£73m) of dedicated funding to cases led by female or ‘racially diverse’ lawyers.
Judge’s fury at suggestion his clerk leaked draft ruling
A High Court judge has strongly criticised a law firm and its client for appearing to blame his clerk for the leak of a draft judgment – which it turned out had not even happened.
Courts and tribunals to upgrade video technology, Burnett says
A new Video Hearings Service, upgrading the Cloud Video Platform used during Covid, is to be rolled out across courts and tribunals, the Lord Chief Justice has revealed.
CA: Judges do not have to accept unchallenged expert evidence
Judges are not required to accept ‘uncontroverted’ – ie, unchallenged – evidence from an expert witness without further analysis, the Court of Appeal has ruled.
BT collective action ruling “could open the floodgates”
The Competition Appeal Tribunal’s approval of a second opt-out collective action is likely to open the floodgates to more applications, it has been claimed.
‘Negligent’ London firm defeats £12m claim for lack of causation
Leading London law firm Withers has fought off a £12m claim on the basis of causation after the High Court ruled that it gave negligent advice to a property developer.
Solicitor’s error delayed case by a year
A party whose solicitor overlooked for a year the need to seek a consent order from the court to stay a commercial dispute has been granted relief from sanctions.
High Court holds clients in contempt for failing to pay solicitors £2.3m
Two clients who owe their solicitors £2.3m in outstanding fees, costs and interest have been found guilty of 14 charges of contempt of court.
Giving evidence “not a game”, judge tells expert witness
An expert witness has apologised to the High Court after being told by a judge not to treat giving evidence in court “as a game”.
Blog
Accountability has to live within governance, not with one person
The assumption has long been that a COLP or COFA is personally exposed to the consequences of anti-money laundering breaches.
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.
