Litigation/Dispute Resolution
Judge throws out skeleton argument for being three times too long
The High Court has refused to admit a skeleton argument that was three times the length it should have been, and ranged beyond the confines of what it should have done.
High Court reinstates negligence claim against top family law firm
A former client of a leading family law firm should be allowed to sue over its alleged failure to advise about its own negligence, the High Court has ruled.
Thousands of motor finance claims can be brought via omnibus forms
The High Court has overturned a ruling that 5,823 people with motor finance commission claims have to file individual claims, rather than sue via eight omnibus claim forms.
Litigation funder awarded £2.1m on assigned claim
A litigation funder that took assignment of an inventor’s claim that his idea was ripped off by early stage investors has been awarded £2.15m in damages.
Claimant firms at odds as judge refuses group order for £18bn PPI case
A circuit judge has refused to make a group litigation order in relation to thousands of Plevin claims brought by one class action law firm, a move competitors had opposed.
Top judge urges compulsory adjudication for costs disputes
Costs disputes worth more than £100,000 should be subject to compulsory adjudication, the judge who leads on costs issues in the Court of Appeal has said.
LSB: Litigation funding should be regulated by FCA
There should be mandatory regulation of the litigation funding industry by the Financial Conduct Authority, the director of regulation and policy at the Legal Services Board said yesterday.
Majority of professional indemnity claims are against solicitors
More than half of professional indemnity cases issued in the High Court over the past five years were against solicitors, according to new figures.
Law firm’s partnership agreement was not varied, High Court rules
Two former partners of a law firm did not vary their 50/50 partnership after it was set up so that one would be in sole control, the High Court has ruled.
“Keeping us ahead of the world” – Arbitration Act receives Royal Assent
The Arbitration Act received Royal Assent yesterday, with the government declaring it would keep the UK “ahead of the rest” and practitioners welcoming the new law.
Law firm’s bid to restrain winding-up petition in doubt
The High Court is to reconsider its intention to allow a Manchester law firm to restrain a claims provider from presenting a winding-up petition.
Tribunal approves landmark £200m Mastercard settlement
The Competition Appeal Tribunal last week approved the £200m settlement of former solicitor Walter Merricks with Mastercard, in a case once valued at £14bn.
Barristers win 25% increase in rates for government work
Barristers doing government work will see a 25% increase in rates from 1 April, in some cases the first rise since the panels were first introduced in 1997.
First unsuccessful opt-out class rep to pay £14m in interim costs
The unsuccessful claimant in the first opt-out collective action decided by the Competition Appeal Tribunal has been ordered to make an interim costs payment of £14m.
Call for new anti-SLAPP mechanism after “false dawn”
There needs to be a new early disposal mechanism for SLAPPs, academics have said, describing existing anti-SLAPP provisions as “a false dawn that will not address the problem”.
Blog
It’s time for law firms to ask tougher questions
For years, many law firms have treated ID verification as a box-ticking exercise. Run a liveness check, match a face to a document and move on. But that is no longer good enough.
Business fatigue to AI will risk job security
Whilst we know professional learning has always been part of career paths, to hire, retain and keep talent, AI needs to be embedded as a core part of this training.
On good authority? GenAI and the reputational risks to law firms
As GenAI’s influence grows, so do the risks which are already playing out in courtrooms across England and Wales, where some early adopters are setting precedents they would rather not.
