Litigation/Dispute Resolution
Accountant-owned law firm targets Bounce Back Loan clients
A law firm bought by an accountant earlier this summer is to launch a national campaign to attract directors involved in disputes over Bounce Back Loans.
Vexatious ex-solicitor cannot start litigating again, High Court says
The High Court has refused to allow a struck-off solicitor to reopen vexatious litigation against the Law Society, Bar Council, senior judges, lawyers and many others.
Regulators “must warn lawyers against taking advantage of LiPs”
Legal regulators must warn lawyers that they will face action to stop them unethically taking advantage of vulnerable litigants, a charity has urged.
Judge says solicitor made “false” declaration on witness statements
A solicitor’s declaration that three witness statements were compliant with the rules set out in practice direction 57AC was false, the High Court has ruled.
Judge criticies Freshfields for approach to draft judgment
The High Court has criticised City giant Freshfields for requesting changes to a draft judgment without informing the opposing solicitors.
Law student wins partial victory in court challenge to expulsion
A law student expelled by Reading Univeristy has won a partial victory in a judicial review challenging the recommendations of the Office of the Independent Adjudicator.
Courts’ CE file system “struggles” with omnibus claim forms
The civil courts’ case management system is a limitation of the ability of solicitors to join multiple claims to a single claim form, a High Court judge has said.
Guide sets out “consistent process” for AI approach to e-discovery
The International Legal Technology Association has published a draft best practice guide for the use in e-discovery of active learning, which it hopes will be officially endorsed.
Judge strikes out law firm’s counterclaim over “warehousing”
The High Court has struck out a counterclaim brought by a law firm that “deliberately maintained a discreet silence” until the claim against it was “done and dusted”.
“Too much lip service” paid to rules on witness statements
There is “far too much lip service” paid to the rules on the content of witness statements and litigants should not presume that breaking them “will not have consequences”, a judge has warned.
Government delays reintroduction of litigation funding bill
The government has shelved reintroducing the Litigation Funding Agreements (Enforceability) Bill until after the Civil Justice Council has completed its review of funding next year.
Peers to probe adequancy of interpreting services in courts
A House of Lords committee has launched an inquiry into the adequacy of interpreting and translation services in the courts – and whether AI could help.
CAT approves litigation funder’s ‘Chinese wall’
The Competition Appeal Tribunal has agreed to the creation of a “separate funding vehicle” within the same litigation funder as it approved the first opt-in collective proceedings order.
Eight opt-out class actions per person in the UK, research finds
Actions filed at the Competition Appeals Tribunal encompass a staggering 544m class members, the equivalent of 8.1 actions for each person in the UK.
High Court judge avoids removal over love letter to junior staff member
A male High Court judge who expressed his love for a young female member of staff has received a reprimand for serious misconduct.
Blog
A letter from the SRA? Your first reaction matters
An email from the SRA has a way of rearranging a working day. It arrives in the same inbox as everything else, often in the same measured tone, yet it carries a different weight.
Regulate sole practices on evidence, not turnover
For a sole practice, the SRA’s plan that I cannot hold a compliance role if my firm has more than £600,000 of turnover is not a measure of risk. It is a ceiling on growth.
Is Google becoming pay-to-play for law firms?
For years, law firms have been told that SEO is the long-term alternative to paying for every click. That principle hasn’t disappeared but search results have changed significantly.
Reports
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