Litigation/Dispute Resolution
PI almost a CMC-free zone as overall number continues to fall
The number of claims management companies has fallen by 83% from its high point of 3,213 in March 2011 to just 546 now, new figures have revealed.
MoJ rules out any exemptions to small claims mediation plan
The Ministry of Justice has ruled out any exemptions to the requirement for compulsory mediation that it is set to introduce for small claims.
CA issues general civil restraint order against struck-off solicitor
The Court of Appeal has imposed a three-year general civil restraint order on a struck-off solicitor who has been issuing claims against the Solicitors Regulation Authority among others.
Litigation funding agreements are DBAs, Supreme Court rules
Agreements with third-party litigation funders are damages-based agreements, the Supreme Court said today in a ruling likely to invalidate almost all existing arrangements.
Government to introduce compulsory mediation for small claims
The Ministry of Justice is to introduce compulsory mediation for small claims valued up to £10,000, starting with specified money claims.
MoJ increasing new fixed costs to reflect high rate of inflation
The Ministry of Justice is to increase the new fixed recoverable costs coming into force on 1 October to take account of the high rate of inflation, and is consulting on other changes.
It is also consulting on a range of further changes to the regime
Law firm’s “implausible” €1.4bn claim against bank thrown out
The High Court has granted a leading bank summary judgment on an “inherently implausible” €1.4bn (£1.2bn) claim for an introduction fee brought by a US law firm.
Legal expenses giant to buy rival and its ABS
Two of the leading names in legal expenses insurance are coming together after ARAG Group agreed a deal to buy DAS UK, including its law firm.
Diesel claim clients unhappy as firm corrects fees “error” in paperwork
Class action firm Pogust Goodhead has had to write to the 1.8m clients of its MyDieselClaim brand to correct a “typographical error” in its paperwork about the cap on its fees.
Barrister’s advice “not complete defence” in law centre negligence case
A master was wrong to find that a law centre’s reliance on advice from a specialist barrister merited summary judgment on a negligence claim against it, the High Court has ruled.
Listed legal business sells litigation funding arm for £3m
Listed legal business RBG Holdings has sold its litigation funding arm for up to £3.1m, having last year had to write off £4m after two of the cases it invested in were lost.
Court refuses to grant law firm injunction against departed solicitor
The High Court has refused to grant a law firm an injunction to prevent a departing solicitor from trying to entice any of its clients away for two years.
Contractor claims specialist ABS aims to “open floodgates”
The legal director of a new ABS specialising in cases for people classed as contractors says he hopes litigation brought by the firm in the next few months will “open the floodgates” to more claims.
Much still to do, but little money left: MPs savage court modernisation
HM Courts & Tribunals Service has “burned through” almost all of the budget for the court modernisation programme with almost half of it as yet incomplete, MPs have found.
High Court boost for costs lawyers as new way to qualify goes live
The first course offering the new way to qualify as a costs lawyer has begun admitting students in the wake of comments from a High Court master praising the contribution of costs lawyers.
Blog
Mazur: a symptom not a cause?
If Mazur is a symptom, what does it mean for the underlying health of our civil justice system: the ‘finest legal system in the world’?
Cross-generation collaboration: the key to in-house legal tech adoption
In-house legal function leaders will increasingly have to evolve their thinking on how to manage multigenerational teams containing differing levels of technological expertise.
AI and law firm risk – the view of professional indemnity insurers
In considering law firm applications for cover, many insurers will expect to see evidence of how firms are adapting to AI and preparing for the future.
