Litigation/Dispute Resolution
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.
“Structure contracts” to avoid need for litigation to resolve disputes
Contracts should routinely include “structured” methods to avoid the need for litigation – including escalation clauses – if disputes arise, a former senior in-house lawyer has advised.
CJC: Costs budgeting has worked but needs to be more tailored
Costs budgeting has been a success and should be retained, but also reformed in recognition that “one size does not necessarily fit all”, a major report has recommended today.
Law firm ordered to pay £12m for negligence in insolvency claim
National law firm TLT has been ordered to pay around £12.5m in damages for breach of contract and professional negligence over the way it handled an insolvency claim.
Claim rejected due to £24 underpayment of court fee
A judge was right to hold that he did not have jurisdiction to allow a claim to proceed out of time where the claimants underpaid the court fee by £24, the High Court has ruled.
Party using freezing order as “means of oppression”, High Court says
A High Court judge has condemned a claimant’s “oppressive and disproportionate” approach to enforcing a defendant’s obligations under a freezing order.
Loss adjuster launches “faster, more integrated” ABS
The largest loss adjuster in the UK has launched an ABS which plans to double in size by the end of this year and expand from property-related claims to personal injury work.
City law firm accused of “untenable” Post Office conflict of interest
Herbert Smith Freehills was yesterday accused of being in an “untenable” conflict of interest with its continued role in the Post Office scandal compensation schemes.
MoJ wants “exponential increase” in dispute resolution tools
The Ministry of Justice wants to see an “exponential increase” in dispute resolution tools like the Official Injury Claims portal, its director of access to justice policy said yesterday.
Supreme Court to put documents online in transparency push
The Supreme Court is to publish court documents online alongside live streaming of its hearings in a bid to improve transparency, Lord Briggs has revealed.
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.
