Litigation/Dispute Resolution
FOI data shows big rises in housing disrepair claims and costs
The number of housing disrepair claims made against local councils has increased almost five-fold this decade but the picture for legal costs is more mixed.
First legal executive should have new litigation rights in six weeks
The first chartered legal executive with standalone litigation practice rights could be authorised in six weeks’ time, with around 2,300 expected to apply for them in the next 18 months.
Case fees causes collapse in number of law firm complaints to FOS
The number of complaints to the Financial Ombudsman Service brought by law firms and CMCs has collapsed in the wake of the new case fee.
Minister urges litigation funders to embrace self-regulation
All third-party funders should join the Association of Litigation Funders while the government decides on the way forward for the sector, the courts minister said this week.
Judge surprised that paralegal did not know legal limits of her work
The High Court has expressed surprise that a paralegal did not know more about the restrictions that the reserved legal activities imposed on her work.
Judge slashes law firm’s costs because of Mazur
A regional costs judge has described how he applied the ruling in Mazur to cut the costs awarded to a law firm in a housing possession case from £3,000 to less than £500.
Law firm accuses motor finance lenders of “systemic obstruction”
A law firm representing huge numbers of people with car finance mis-selling claims has accused lenders of “systemic obstruction”.
Pioneering AI law firm untroubled by impact of Mazur
The Mazur ruling will have no impact on the work of the first regulated AI law firm as the technology is not conducting litigation, its founder has asserted.
FCA: We are not discouraging consumers from using lawyers
The Financial Conduct Authority is not trying to discourage motor finance victims from seeking professional representation, a senior executive insisted last week.
PACCAR to blame for “collapse” in collective actions
The number of collective actions filed at the CAT has “collapsed” to only three this year, due mainly to the “chilling effect” of PACCAR, a report has argued.
KC: Regulators should promise no action over pre-Mazur breaches
Regulators should assure non-authorised people who may have inadvertently conducted litigation as found by Mazur that they will not face criminal prosecution or disciplinary action.
Apple users set for damages after first trial win for collective action
The collective action regime received a timely boost yesterday after a claim against Apple over its App Store became the first case to win at trial.
Home Office-funded collective action wins approval
The Competition Appeal Tribunal has granted the first public sector collective proceedings order, with the Home Office as litigation funder and largest class member.
Law firm that cited fake AI-generated cases to pay wasted costs
A law firm has been ordered to pay wasted costs after it cited two fictitious cases that were generated by artificial intelligence.
MoJ rejects MPs’ call for “root-and-branch review” of county courts
The government’s rejection of MPs’ call for an “urgent and comprehensive” review of the county court risks perpetuating a “dysfunctional” system, the justice select committee has warned.
Blog
The power of participation for trainees and apprentices
It’s important as a trainee or an apprentice to get involved in the life of your firm – even under the pressure of discovering how to navigate professional life and now the demands of the SQE.
Is it time to change how law firms view compliance?
Although COFAs often hold senior positions and play an essential role in a firm’s financial and regulatory integrity, the perception of the compliance function itself is still evolving.
From templates to culture change: Lessons from the SRA on source of funds
The SRA’s new thematic review into source of funds and wealth reveals both progress and persistent blind spots, with source-of-funds checks too often thought of as a procedural hurdle.
