Litigation/Dispute Resolution
MR on fixed costs extension: “I hope it works”
The Master of the Rolls has said he believes the extension of fixed recoverable costs (FRCs) to many cases worth up to £100,000 in October is “a good thing” and “I hope it works”.
Claim against law firm lost by court can proceed, appeal judges rule
A claim against a law firm thrown out for being served too late can now proceed after the Court of Appeal held that the claim form was sealed with the wrong date.
“About time” – Post Office replaces HSF as Horizon inquiry lawyers
The Post Office has replaced City giant Herbert Smith Freehills as its solicitors for the ongoing Horizon IT Inquiry, it announced yesterday, a move observers suggested was overdue.
Time from issue to trial in county court hits record high of 80 weeks
The number of claims lodged at the county court has returned to near pre-Covid levels but the time between issue and trial has reached a new all-time high.
High Court rejects claims against law firm over corporate restructure
The High Court has rejected claims made against a law firm which advised a medical services company on a restructure which claimants alleged was designed to put its assets beyond the reach of creditors.
High Court dismisses negligence claim over failed group action
The High Court has struck out a negligence claim against the law firm and eight barristers who acted on a failed group action on behalf of more than 40,000 Kenyans against the Foreign Office.
Judge criticises “gratuitously offensive” comments aimed at solicitors
The judge in the Chris Packham libel trial has deprecated “gratuitously offensive” comments the defendants targeted at the TV presenter’s solicitors.
Struck-off conspiracy theorist solicitor jailed for contempt
A struck-off solicitor who issues “spurious applications and claims” in the names of “innocent litigants” has failed in his appeal against a 12-month prison sentence for contempt.
Judges spell out warning on embargo breaches and contempt
Concern among the senior judiciary about the spate of breaches of embargoes on draft judgment has resulted in a clear warning in the updated King’s Bench Division guide.
Google representative action on behalf of 1.6m people struck out
The High Court has struck out a representative action brought on behalf of 1.6m people who claimed Google and DeepMind Technologies misused their medical records.
City firm was in “intractable conflict of interest” with client
City law firm RPC has been ordered to pay a former client damages of £192,500 after it put itself in an “intractable conflict of interest and duty” during its work for her.
Government “awareness programmes” needed to boost LEI
The government should run “awareness programmes” to educate the public about the benefits of legal expenses insurance, the Association of Consumer Support Organisations has argued.
When is without prejudice really without prejudice?
The recent cases of Scheldebouw v Evanson [2022] and Meaker v Cyxtera Tech UK Ltd [2023] have served as reminders of how the courts determine the application of without prejudice privilege
London litigator acquires Checkmylegalfees.com
A London law firm that has in the past been sued by Checkmylegalfees.com has now bought the brand, and will seek to move it into costs disputes brought by commercial clients.
High Court rejects £63m claim over S&G’s acquisition of Quindell
The High Court today rejected a £63m claim that accountancy firm PwC used confidential information to reduce the amount Slater & Gordon paid for Quindell’s legal division in 2015.
Blog
From ‘year zero’ to £6.5m – how a law firm found its second life
In 2018, I hit what I call ‘year zero’. On paper, Olliers Solicitors was a top-tier criminal defence firm but beneath the surface, I could see we were at a crossroads.
Linklaters’ chief growth officer takes the ‘blank sheet’ challenge
In the third and final part of this series, Lucy Murphy, chief growth officer at magic circle firm Linklaters, outlines her vision for the law firm of the future.
The ‘blank sheet’ challenge, part 2 – what would you do differently?
In the second part of this blog series, Shainul Kassam, managing director of small London firm Fortune Law, sets out how she would set up a law firm now.
