Litigation/Dispute Resolution
Costs judge allows £700 an hour in biggest departure from guidelines
A costs judge has allowed a leading US law firm to recover partner costs at £700 per hour, said to be the largest ever departure from the guideline hourly rates.
Thousands of privileged documents disclosed in “unprecedented” error
An “extraordinary” and “unprecedented” failure of disclosure that has seen thousands of privileged documents released to the other side has been revealed in the High Court.
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.
Blog
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.
Linklaters’ chief growth officer takes the ‘blank sheet’ challenge
In the third and final part of this series, Lucy Murphy, chief growth officer at magic circle firm Linklaters, outlines her vision for the law firm of the future.
The ‘blank sheet’ challenge, part 2 – what would you do differently?
In the second part of this blog series, Shainul Kassam, managing director of small London firm Fortune Law, sets out how she would set up a law firm now.
