Litigation/Dispute Resolution
Barristers “do not want remote hearings rolled back”
Barristers do not want to see “progress on remote hearings rolled back” and almost half would like the number to be increased, a report by the Bar Council has found.
Exclusive: Allow courts to fine lawyers who bring SLAPPs, says Browder
The courts should have the power to issue big fines for law firms that bring SLAPPs, global anti-corruption campaigner Bill Browder has told Legal Futures.
Huge costs award over way claims company pursued £400m case
A claims management company’s allegations of fraud, whose purpose was to pressure a bank to settle a £400m case that ultimately failed at trial, justified awarding indemnity costs.
Barristers turning away from government legal work over frozen fees
The failure to increase the rates of pay for barristers handling government work since 1997 has created a “very high level of dissatisfaction and exasperation”.
Peers support widening SRA’s fining and investigative powers
The Solicitors Regulation Authority needs more powers to prevent misconduct by law firms involved in strategic litigation against public participation (SLAPPs), peers have urged.
High Court: Sanctioned Russians “probably owned” litigation funder
There is “reasonable cause to suspect” that the funder of the claimant in a $1.3bn action was controlled by sanctioned Russians, the High Court has ruled.
Civil Mediation Council bids to push up standards in profession
The Civil Mediation Council is creating an independent regulatory body and applying for a Royal charter in a bid to drive up standards in the profession, it has emerged.
Solicitor struck off for making false costs claim to court
A solicitor who tried to pass off costs incurred by someone else as his own before the Business and Property Court has been struck off.
It’s official: fixed costs for clinical negligence set for October
The government has finally confirmed that fixed recoverable costs for low-value clinical negligence claims that settle pre-issue will come into force in October 2024.
Single online entry point for legal disputes “should be hosted by HMCTS”
The Law Society has called on HMCTS to host a single online entry point for legal disputes but dropped the idea of law firm consortia running subscription-based helplines to aid civil justice.
MPs hit out at media lawyers’ lobbying over SLAPPs bill
MPs yesterday hit out at lobbying against the Strategic Litigation Against Public Participation Bill by the lawyers they accuse of creating the problem it aims to solve.
Google-spoofing by CMCs “not necessarily illegal”
‘Google-spoofing’ by claims management companies, where they pay for prominent Google adverts to trick consumers, does not necessarily involve “anything illegal”, a High Court judge has said.
No good reason for “misunderstanding” between insurer and law firm
There was “no good reason” for a “misunderstanding or breakdown in communications” between insurer AXA and its solicitors in a personal injury claim, a High Court judge has said.
County court has “borne brunt” of court reform failure
The county court has “borne the brunt” of the failure of the court modernisation programme to deliver, a former adviser to the Ministry of Justice has said.
Rising insolvency numbers translate to case records at listed funder
Business is booming at listed insolvency litigation funder Manolete on the back of the highest level of UK insolvencies for 30 years, with a record 418 live cases on its books.











