Litigation/Dispute Resolution
Saudi claim dismissed after solicitors withdraw over unpaid fees
The Court of Appeal has dismissed an appeal brought by embassy of Saudi Arabia because of non-appearance at the hearing, after its solicitors withdrew due to unpaid fees.
Court allows firm to take £386k in fees from frozen client account
A law firm can be paid from monies held in its client account despite them being subject to both a freezing order and a third-party debt order, the High Court has ruled.
Ministers hold fire over retrospective effect of litigation funding bill
The government is still considering concerns expressed about the retrospective effect of the bill to overturn last year’s Supreme Court ruling in PACCAR, a minister said yesterday.
Greener Litigation launches toolkit to drive “cultural change”
Greener Litigation, an initiative to help reduce the environmental impact of dispute resolution, has launched a toolkit as part of its push for further “cultural change”.
Judges praises use of junior counsel in major film tax scheme case
A judge has expressed his “delight” that all the leading counsel in a major claim brought by investors in a failed film tax scheme delegated significant portions of the oral advocacy to their juniors.
Watchstone pays out £5.3m in legal fees after failed S&G claim
Watchstone – the company once known as Quindell – has paid out £5.3m in legal costs in large part due to its failed claim over Slater & Gordon’s acquisition of Quindell’s legal division.
Judge strikes out £68m negligence claim against law firm
A High Court judge has struck out a £68m negligence claim against a law firm brought by companies in liquidation as a result of failed property development schemes.
Senior judiciary “inadequately resourced to deliver leadership”
The senior judiciary is “inadequately resourced and supported” to deliver the leadership functions they are responsible for, a report for the Nuffield Foundation has found.
CJC unveils members and terms of reference for litigation funding review
A High Court judge and the former principal legal adviser to the Lord Chief Justice have been named as co-chairs of the Civil Justice Council review of third-party litigation funding.
Court delays deterring clients and lawyers from bringing claims
Court delays are deterring people from taking legal action, research for the government has found, with lawyers also worried that clients will blame them for the delays.
High Court concern over 10 law firms being sued in one action
A High Court judge has used a case where 10 law firms are being sued to warn about “extreme attempts” to bring such claims in one action.
Government faces JR claim over litigation funding legislation
The Ministry of Justice is being threatened with judicial review over the draft legislation that aims to reverse the impact of the Supreme Court’s PACCAR ruling.
Group action against law firm to go ahead with single claim form
The Court of Appeal has allowed 134 claimants to start an action against a law firm with a single claim form, which their solicitor said will strengthen the trend for class actions in the UK.
Solicitor who lied to clients about progress of litigation is struck off
A solicitor who lied to litigation clients about sending pre-action protocol letters and failed to tell one of them about a costs offer until it expired has been struck off.
Arbuthnot defends Bates backer as peers debate litigation funding bill
The former MP who championed the cause of sub-postmasters has defended the litigation funder which took a large chunk of the damages in the pivotal civil action.
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.
