Litigation/Dispute Resolution
Judge penalises claimant for “unrealistic” costs budget
A judge has penalised a claimant for submitting an “unrealistic” costs budget, saying he hoped it would encourage parties to negotiate them before reaching court.
Arbitration Bill aims to retain pre-eminence of England and Wales
The Ministry of Justice yesterday published the Arbitration Bill, including a new statutory duty on arbitrators to disclose anything which might give rise to “justifiable doubts” about their impartiality.
High Court criticises firm for private prosecution disclosure failure
The High Court has criticised a leading private prosecutions law firm for the information it provided to persuade a judge to issue summonses alleging fraud against three people.
Judge acts to enforce deal between squabbling law firm owners
The High Court has made cross-examination and disclosure orders to enforce a consent order made in the wake of a nine-year dispute between solicitors over the winding down of their law firm.
Guideline hourly rates to rise in January as Vos implements CJC review
The Master of the Rolls today publicly accepted the recommendations of the Civil Justice Council’s costs review, starting with an increase in the guideline hourly rates in January.
High Court laments “wholly unacceptable” last-minute adjournment
A Commercial Court judge has blamed a claimant “in large part” for the “wholly unacceptable” last-minute adjournment of their case after he had begun pre-reading for it.
Government plan to address PACCAR “does not go far enough”
Lawyers and litigation funders have expressed disappointment at the government’s legislative proposal to address the Supreme Court’s PACCAR ruling.
High Court rejects GLO after law firm’s “wholesale failure”
The High Court has rejected an application by Welsh firm Hugh James for a group litigation order in the face of objections from 18 other law firms.
Prospect of paying fees “overcomes litigation funding scepticism”
Nearly two-thirds of consumers would prefer litigation funders to take a share of their compensation from class actions than pay legal fees, research has found.
Government eyes £42m boost through 10% court fees rise
The government is set to recoup up to £42m a year more in court fees after proposing a 10% increase in over 200 fees. It also plans biennial inflation increases in future.
Disbarred barrister faces jail for contempt over work as McKenzie Friend
A disbarred barrister is facing jail for contempt of court after failing to comply with a court order relating to allegations of misconduct while acting as a McKenzie Friend.
Court of Appeal to conclude hearing on compulsory ADR
The Court of Appeal will today conclude a three-day hearing on whether the courts can stay proceedings and require parties to engage in ADR as a condition of being able to continue their claims.
Make sure junior counsel get time on their feet, judges told
The heads of the judiciary have told judges and instructing solicitors to give junior counsel who are being led every chance to address the court as well.
Tell CFA clients that other firms may charge less, says LeO
Litigators who recover from clients substantial success fees not linked to individual risk must tell them other firms may charge less, the Legal Ombudsman has warned.
One in four GCs have demanded greater diversity in law firm teams
Nearly one in four general counsel have directly asked a law firm to put a woman or racially diverse lawyer on a litigation or arbitration matter, new research has found.
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.
