Litigation/Dispute Resolution
High Court refuses time extension to serve claim on law firm
The High Court has refused a time extension to claimants to serve a professional negligence claim on a law firm over the restructuring of a trust.
Green light for billionaire to challenge law firm’s £13m fees
The Court of Appeal has held that none of the 79 invoices worth nearly £13m received by a billionaire over six years were statutory bills, meaning they remain open for challenge.
Peers back rapid passage of Arbitration Bill through Parliament
Peers from all sides of the House of Lords have backed the Arbitration Bill to pass into law quickly during the first debate since it recommenced its journey through Parliament.
Solicitors hit out at FCA over car finance mis-selling delay
Solicitors representing clients with claims for mis-sold car finance have expressed frustration at the Financial Conduct Authority’s delay in completing its work on the issue.
No relief from sanctions for solicitor who demanded referral fee
The High Court has refused relief from sanctions for a solicitor who claimed a profit share of £96,000 from a mortgage broker to whom he had referred a client.
Claim against law firm back on after High Court overturns strike-out
The High Court has overturned a master’s decision to strike out a claim against a London law firm because of a release clause in a previous settlement involving its clients.
“Urgent action” on SLAPPs needed, says minister – but no legislation yet
The government yesterday said it recognised “an urgent need for legislation” to prevent SLAPPs but would not at this stage commit to a standalone bill.
Insurers win costs orders against Anexo over credit hire
A circuit judge has made four non-party costs orders against the credit hire arm of AIM-listed Anexo Group, whose customers have to use its law firm, Bond Turner, to recover its costs from insurers.
Cheers for what’s in King’s Speech, boos for what’s not
The legal profession’s reaction to the King’s Speech yesterday focused as much on what is not in the government’s legislative priorities as what is.
Firm forced to take action against client’s ex-husband over email error
A family law firm has had to take legal action against the ex-husband of a client after an associate accidentally sent confidential information about another client to him.
Rule committee silence points to another fixed costs delay
The extension of fixed costs to low-value clinical negligence cases seems likely to be delayed further after it emerged the rule committee did not discuss them last month.
GLO would add “unnecessary cost and expense” to student Covid claims
Making a group litigation order would add “unnecessary cost and expense” to already expensive claims from university students over the lack of in-person teaching.
What is a bill? Costs lawyers urge regime reform
Two significant High Court rulings in which law firms’ billing arrangements did not achieve what they had intended, emphasise the need for reform of the legal framework.
Costs lawyers call for guidelines rates and judiciary recognition
Costs lawyers have become a fundamental part of litigation teams and this needs to be recognised in the guideline hourly rates and with the ability to apply for judicial appointment.
Judges slash “absurd” £343m budget for first part of diesel cars claim
The High Court has refused to sanction the “absurd” and “staggering” £343m in costs put forward by the claimants for just the first third of the diesel emissions group litigation.
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.
