Litigation/Dispute Resolution
High Court rejects committal applications against City partners
A High Court judge has struck out a Russian businessman’s committal applications against two City law firm partners, describing them as “totally without merit”.
Court rejects contempt bid over solicitor’s witness statement error
The High Court has rejected an application to begin contempt proceedings against a solicitor over what it said was a simple error in a witness statement.
Court orders judge’s recusal due to “business association” with defendant
The High Court has ruled that a circuit judge should not hear any more of a claim against HSBC because his own relationship with the bank raised the risk of apparent bias.
Law firm did not breach contract by releasing off-plan deposits
A law firm which released nearly £1.3m in deposits for off-plan flats in a failed development in Liverpool did not breach its contract with the buyers, appeal judges have ruled.
Ministry of Justice to launch call for evidence on open justice
The Ministry of Justice is to launch a “wide-ranging” call for evidence on open justice, access to information and transparency across the courts and tribunals.
Bank’s solicitor “may have owed duty of care” to third party
A bank’s solicitor may owe a duty of care to the seller of the property when filling in Land Registry paperwork to change the register, the Court of Appeal has ruled.
Law firm fails in bid to throw out claim assigned to litigation funder
A law firm being sued for wrongly releasing £2m it held in escrow among other alleged errors has failed in its bid for summary judgment on major elements of the claim.
Class actions focusing on banks and competition law breaches
The UK’s biggest banks are facing 109 class actions across different jurisdictions, while the value of UK class actions for competition law breaches multiplied more than six fold to over £26bn last year.
Solicitor can sue ex-firm for misuse of private WhatsApp messages
The High Court has rejected a law firm owner’s attempt to “stifle” a misuse of private information claim by a junior solicitor he dismissed by applying to have her case struck out.
Costs lawyers call for revived remuneration certificate procedure
The Association of Costs Lawyers has proposed working with the Law Society and Legal Ombudsman to revive a 1990s procedure as an alternative way for clients to challenge smaller solicitors’ bills.
Work done in Scotland does not save law firm from claim in England
A Scottish law firm with no presence in England can be sued for negligence south of the border over advice given by a dual-qualified solicitor on plans for a Cornish wind farm, the High Court has ruled.
Judge orders law firm in web copy dispute to pay indemnity costs
A Bradford law firm has been ordered to pay indemnity costs after failing to obtain a court order forcing a rival firm to reveal who provided it with identical website copy.
Judge warns solicitors over witness statement compliance certificates
The High Court has issued a stark warning to solicitors who sign a certificate of compliance on non-compliant witness statements so their clients can have their day in court.
Supreme Court: Law firm waived equitable lien with new retainer
A law firm waived its equitable lien when it replaced its original retainer with a fixed-fee agreement (FFA) and deed of charge over the client’s assets, the Supreme Court has ruled.
Non-party condemned by recorder was victim of “unlawful judicial act”
A non-party to a property dispute, condemned in his absence by a recorder for dishonest conspiracy, was the victim of an “unlawful judicial act” which breached his human rights, the High Court has ruled.
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.
