Litigation/Dispute Resolution
High Court concern over 10 law firms being sued in one action
A High Court judge has used a case where 10 law firms are being sued to warn about “extreme attempts” to bring such claims in one action.
Government faces JR claim over litigation funding legislation
The Ministry of Justice is being threatened with judicial review over the draft legislation that aims to reverse the impact of the Supreme Court’s PACCAR ruling.
Group action against law firm to go ahead with single claim form
The Court of Appeal has allowed 134 claimants to start an action against a law firm with a single claim form, which their solicitor said will strengthen the trend for class actions in the UK.
Solicitor who lied to clients about progress of litigation is struck off
A solicitor who lied to litigation clients about sending pre-action protocol letters and failed to tell one of them about a costs offer until it expired has been struck off.
Arbuthnot defends Bates backer as peers debate litigation funding bill
The former MP who championed the cause of sub-postmasters has defended the litigation funder which took a large chunk of the damages in the pivotal civil action.
$1.8m negligence claim against City law firm “must go to trial”
A businessman’s $1.75m negligence claim against City law firm Clyde & Co for allegedly failing to advise him properly on the risk of an anti-suit injunction “must go to trial”, the High Court has ruled.
Compulsory small claims mediation to go live next month
Mediation will become mandatory in some money disputes worth less than £10,000 filed from 22 May, where brought on paper or through HMCTS’s traditional online systems.
High Court throws out £55m claim against law firms
A businessman who brought a claim against two leading law firms, and also reported them and those representing them to the SRA, has seen his case struck out.
Lawyers join forces with newspaper editors to urge SLAPPs bill changes
Media lawyers have joined forces with newspaper editors and others to urge the government to tighten up the Strategic Litigation Against Public Participation Bill.
Government reviews role of apologies in civil litigation
The government today launches a consultation on whether it should be easier to apologise in civil proceedings without admitting liability.
Top litigation funder uses astrophysicists to help cut loss rate
Burford Capital, the world’s largest litigation funder, is using astrophysicists to help cut its loss rate from double figures to 8%, the company’s chief executive has revealed.
Government to raise extra £35m after trimming list of rising court fees
The government has trimmed the number of court fees it will increase by 10% next month, reducing the likely revenue they will raise from £42m to £35m.
MPs urge SRA to speed up investigation into SSB collapse
The Solicitors Regulation Authority needs to speed up its investigation into the collapse of Sheffield law firm SSB Law, MPs said this week, with one calling out “dodgy” solicitors.
Wasted costs “not the right approach” for ex-client let down by firm
The High Court has rejected an unusual application by a former client for wasted costs against a law firm which accepted its conduct of his case was “reprehensible”.
Post Office makes “policy decision” to stop using ‘without prejudice’
The Post Office has made a “policy decision” to remove the label ‘without prejudice’ from its Horizon Shortfall Scheme compensation letters, against legal advice.
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
Associates
