Litigation/Dispute Resolution
High Court removes privilege in fraud claim involving top law firm
Legal professional privilege should not apply in a case where there is a “very good arguable case” that a client used global firm DLA Piper’s services to assist a fraud, the High Court has ruled.
Rising PII premium helped put paid to Liverpool claims firm
A number of adverse costs awards against Liverpool law firm High Street Solicitors pushed its insurance premiums up and contributed to its collapse, administrators have revealed.
Firm wins £2.5m claim after client assigns loan to pay outstanding fees
A London law firm that took an assignment of nearly £2.5m owed to a client to pay its fees has been granted summary judgment by the High Court.
CA overturns ruling that £2.7bn class action should proceed as opt-in
The Court of Appeal last week overturned a decision that £2.7bn collective proceedings over a foreign exchange spot-trading cartel should be on an opt-in, rather than opt-out, basis.
RBG shares hit all-time low after it writes off contingent work
RBG Holdings – the AIM-listed business that owns the law firms Rosenblatt and Memery Crystal – saw its shares dive to an all-time low yesterday after writing off all of its contingent work.
Solicitor set for SRA probe after High Court overturns anonymity order
The High Court has removed a nine-year anonymity order in favour of a solicitor, meaning that the Solicitors Regulation Authority can now investigate his misconduct in later costs proceedings.
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.
Blog
Is clients’ use of AI destroying legal privilege?
Much has been written about the risks of lawyers misusing AI. However, in my view, the greater challenge lies elsewhere: the routine use of AI by clients themselves.
Does the Lloyd review mark the end of the Legal Services Act?
The Legal Services Board often generates eye-rolls and irritation from the leaders of the frontline regulators it oversees and of the representative bodies attached to them.
A familiar story?
There is no doubt that the rising cost of clinical negligence claims deserves attention. However, the system’s true cost driver is often not the claim itself.
