Litigation/Dispute Resolution
CA overturns referral of KC for contempt hearing over closing speech
The Court of Appeal has set aside a Crown Court judge’s referral of a KC for contempt of court proceedings after finding the High Court did not have the jurisdiction to pursue them.
Barrister denies raping client’s daughter in chambers
A barrister has denied raping the vulnerable daughter of one of his clients, who demanded £100,000 from him as an out-of-court settlement.
FCA warns legal challenges could scupper any motor finance scheme
If the various legal challenges to current motor finance compensation scheme succeed, there might be no scheme at all, the Financial Conduct Authority has warned.
CAT approves £1.7bn Microsoft action despite funder “uncertainty”
The CAT has approved a £1.7bn opt-out collective action against Microsoft despite admitting that “a degree of uncertainty” surrounded its funder.
‘Freeman of the land’ theories “offensive to the rule of law”
A High Court judge has condemned ‘Freeman of the land’ theories used by litigants in person to try and get themselves out of legal difficulties as “offensive to the rule of law”.
First batch of credit hire claims processed by arbitration pilot
The first group of credit hire claims have been processed by a pioneering arbitration pilot – a partnership between a law firm, an insurer and a legaltech firm.
AI helping judges avoid jigsaw identification and inconsistencies
Artificial intelligence is helping judges avoid jigsaw identification of individuals when anonymising judgments, the Chancellor of the High Court has said.
Call to shift “modest” solicitor-client costs disputes from court to LeO
Costs disputes between solicitors and their clients worth up to £50,000 should be dealt with by the Legal Ombudsman and not the courts, the Civil Justice Council has proposed.
FCA and solicitors in war of words over motor finance challenge
The FCA has told solicitors and CMCs challenging its motor finance redress scheme that they should give their clients the chance to end their retainers.
“Aggressive” circuit judge interrupted barrister excessively
A circuit judge who adopted an aggressive tone with a female barrister and interrupted her excessively has been issued with “formal advice” for misconduct.
Exclusive: CA clarifies Mazur ruling after Law Society application
The Court of Appeal has made amendments to its Mazur ruling to make clear that law firms are not at risk of committing a criminal offence through inadequate supervision of unauthorised persons.
Motor finance law firm to launch JR of lifetime smoking ban
A law firm which specialises in motor finance claims is to launch and fund a judicial review of new legislation which will ban anyone born after 1 January 2009 from buying tobacco.
The drama is over – no Mazur appeal
The Law Society has decided against trying to appeal last month’s Court of Appeal ruling in Mazur, it has confirmed to Legal Futures.
Judge warns PI firms of SRA referrals over damages deductions
Personal injury solicitors who jack up their base costs to ensure they always hit the 25% cap on deductions from damages risk referral to the SRA, a senior district judge has warned.
Government eyes consumer class actions regime
The Law Commission has launched a new project to consider whether a consumer class action regime should be introduced.
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.
