Litigation/Dispute Resolution
MPs call for single portal for public access to courts
HMCTS should develop a single digital portal where the public and media can access “full information on court proceedings, court documents and any other relevant information”, MPs said today.
Barrister’s app shuns AI in favour of human collaboration
A commercial barrister has designed an app designed to involve everybody in a complex case so they can work collaboratively on a single document from start to finish.
Checkmylegalfees comes out fighting after Court of Appeal criticism
Checkmylegalfees came out fighting yesterday in the wake of the Court of Appeal’s criticism of its business model, pledging to keep on “holding solicitors to account”.
Vos signals end of court challenges to deductions from PI damages
The possible end of court challenges to solicitors’ deductions from damages and reform of how bills are assessed are the headlines from today’s Court of Appeal ruling in Belsner.
High Court denies rights of audience to disbarred barrister
The High Court has denied rights of audience to a disbarred barrister jailed for a bomb hoax at the London Olympics, which would have allowed him to represent a prisoner in habeas corpus proceedings.
Top US trial lawyer teams up with barristers to target group actions
Two barristers have joined forces with a top American civil trial lawyer to launch a group action law firm that aims to replicate his success in the US over here.
Senior Costs Judge: Break the link between case and costs management
Case and costs management should be separated, and costs judges tasked with setting the budget and also summarily assessing incurred costs, the Senior Costs Judge has suggested.
City solicitor avoids jail after criminal contempt finding
A senior City partner who told a client to “burn” a private messaging app after it was served with a search order has avoided jail for criminal contempt of court, in part because of the impact on his career.
The driving forces behind the class action revolution: setting the industry in motion
Jen Dickson explores the explosion of class actions in the UK, looking at it from all angles to discuss the key factors that have built the market up to reach record levels of activity
Solicitor’s libel defence struck out for “persistent failure to engage”
A High Court judge has struck out a solicitor’s defence to a libel claim following a “persistent failure to engage” with the litigation.
Law Commission seeks ban on discrimination in appointing arbitrators
Arbitration agreements requiring that the arbitrator be a “commercial man” or otherwise specifying a protected characteristic will be unenforceable under Law Commission proposals published today.
Claimant to pay indemnity costs after latest witness statement failure
The High Court has ordered a claimant who seriously breached the rules on witness statements to pay indemnity costs, having exacerbated the situation by dismissing the defendant’s concerns.
Litigation funder’s share price slumps after adverse High Court ruling
Shares in specialist insolvency litigation funder Manolete Partners slumped by 15% on Friday in the wake of a “rare” adverse High Court ruling and concerns over the wider economy.
Solicitors cannot use lien to block disclosure of file in negligence claim
A law firm being sued by for negligence cannot use its lien over a file for unpaid fees to overcome its obligation to disclose the file to its former client, the High Court has ruled.
Firm had no duty to advise prospective client before CFA was signed
Leading law firm Irwin Mitchell was not under a duty to advise a prospective client to notify their travel agent about an accident on holiday until the retainer was signed, 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.
