Litigation/Dispute Resolution
Justice minister urges regulators to toughen up on CFAs
The government has told the Solicitors Regulation Authority and Financial Conduct Authority of the need for “tougher, more consistent regulation of conditional fee agreements”.
National litigation practice bought by private equity house
A national practice best known for its credit hire work has become the latest addition to the ranks of law firms owned by private equity.
Mazur: Local government lawyers eye legislative change
The Lawyers in Local Government group is to seek “legislative clarification and reform” in response to the Mazur ruling, instead of intervening in the Court of Appeal
Foundation launches grant programme for class action proceeds
The Access to Justice Foundation has today announced a groundbreaking £3.9m grants programme mainly funded by unclaimed damages from a collective action.
Court issues restraint order over LiP’s pursuit of law firm
The High Court has imposed a civil restraint order on a litigant in person who made “numerous meritless applications” as part of a claim against his former solicitors.
Law firm granted injunction following major disclosure error
A London law firm has been granted an injunction for the return of thousands of confidential and privileged documents that it disclosed by mistake to the opposing side in litigation.
The new Mazur? ‘Solicitor agent’ does not have rights of audience
A so-called solicitor’s agent did not meet the Legal Services Act 2007 requirements for rights of audience, a district judge has ruled.
Fixed costs extension “has increased deductions from damages”
The continued push for fixed costs has resulted in more deductions from clients’ damages and raises questions about whether justice is being achieved.
Court of Appeal backs strike-out of £68m law firm negligence claim
The Court of Appeal has dismissed a challenge to the striking out of £68m negligence claim against Yorkshire law firm Lupton Fawcett following a failed property development schemes.
FCA goes public with claims company investigation after court battle
The Financial Conduct Authority is investigating The Claims Protection Agency Ltd over its motor finance work, it has emerged after a High Court battle over anonymity.
Consumers want lawyers to help them with FCA car finance scheme
Most consumers will use a lawyer to navigate the FCA’s car finance redress scheme – and almost all will go to court for more compensation, according to research.
SRA urged not to ban ‘no win, no fee’ label
The Law Society has argued against banning use of the term ‘no win, no fee’ by solicitors, which would risk diverting consumers to unregulated firms.
WhatsApp messages form part of firm’s file – if they charge for them
A law firm’s file includes WhatApp messages and other forms of digital communication where it then seeks to charge for them, a costs judge has ruled.
Supreme Court overturns decision that class action should be opt-out
The Supreme Court has reinstated a decision that £2.7bn collective proceedings should be on an opt-in, rather than opt-out, basis.
Complex court processes “shut out litigants in person”
Complex court administrative processes “increasingly function as gatekeepers to justice” and shut out litigants in person, research has found.
Blog
A letter from the SRA? Your first reaction matters
An email from the SRA has a way of rearranging a working day. It arrives in the same inbox as everything else, often in the same measured tone, yet it carries a different weight.
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.
Reports
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