Litigation/Dispute Resolution


Insolvent insurer’s policyholders fail in claim over unpaid legal costs

14 September 2023

The FSCS does not have to compensate policyholders for the legal costs they were awarded after taking legal action against an insurer that became insolvent before paying them.


Litigation funder eyes up $6.2bn return from single case

11 September 2023

The world’s biggest litigation funder could recover an astonishing $6.2bn (£5bn) from a single piece of litigation after a US ruling in its clients’ favour.


Law Commission drops plan to ban discrimination in appointing arbitrators

6 September 2023

The Law Commission has “reluctantly concluded” that banning discrimination in the appointment of arbitrators “could cause more problems than it solves”.


Justice secretary must “get to grips” with escalating civil court delays

6 September 2023

Justice secretary Alex Chalk must urgently “get to grips” with increasing civil court delays to help thousands of consumers trapped in “legal limbo”, ACSO has argued.


Solicitor “cut corners” when exchanging contracts on property sale

29 August 2023

A judge has refused to order the sale of a house after finding that the buyer’s solicitor “cut corners” and did not hold a signed contract at the point of exchange, despite claiming he did.


County court should have adjourned trial after defendant got Covid

22 August 2023

A judge should have adjourned a trial after the defendant reported symptoms of Covid, the High Court has ruled. He was wrong to criticise the defendant for failing to take a lateral flow test.


Scottish court refuses costs recovery because claimant used English firm

21 August 2023

A woman who lives in Scotland but chose to instruct an English law firm to conduct her personal injury case, using a Scottish law firm as agents, cannot recover the English firm’s fees.


Judge criticises approach of firm acting on hundreds of mesh claims

18 August 2023

A law firm acting for hundreds of women who claim to have been harmed by vaginal mesh implant surgery has had its costs slashed by an unimpressed judge.


CILEX advocate sets up personal injury firm regulated by BSB

11 August 2023

A personal injury specialist has become one of the first CILEX advocates to set up a law firm regulated by the Bar Standards Board, providing county court advocacy services.


Judge “deeply concerned” by verbal threats from unhappy litigant

11 August 2023

A judge has expressed his “deep concern” at being threatened verbally by a litigant in person unhappy with his ruling but continued to hand down judgment on the second part of her appeal.


Water company faces first CAT environmental collective action

9 August 2023

Leigh Day has launched the first environmental collective action at the Competition Appeal Tribunal against Severn Trent Water – one of six it is planning against water companies.


High Court rejects barrister’s bid to halt negligence case

7 August 2023

The High Court has rejected a barrister’s appeal against a ruling that a negligence claim against him should not be struck out on limitation grounds.


Another non-legal acquisition for Gateley with £6m surveying firm

3 August 2023

Listed law firm Gateley has increased its non-legal professional capabilities by spending £6m on an East Midlands chartered surveyors practice, while also setting up a collective actions practice.


High Court removes privilege in fraud claim involving top law firm

2 August 2023

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

31 July 2023

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.

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