Litigation/Dispute Resolution

A law firm being sued for wrongly releasing £2m it held in escrow among other alleged errors has failed in its bid for summary judgment on major elements of the claim.

The UK’s biggest banks are facing 109 class actions across different jurisdictions, while the value of UK class actions for competition law breaches multiplied more than six fold to over £26bn last year.

The High Court has rejected a law firm owner’s attempt to “stifle” a misuse of private information claim by a junior solicitor he dismissed by applying to have her case struck out.

The Association of Costs Lawyers has proposed working with the Law Society and Legal Ombudsman to revive a 1990s procedure as an alternative way for clients to challenge smaller solicitors’ bills.

A Scottish law firm with no presence in England can be sued for negligence south of the border over advice given by a dual-qualified solicitor on plans for a Cornish wind farm, the High Court has ruled.

A Bradford law firm has been ordered to pay indemnity costs after failing to obtain a court order forcing a rival firm to reveal who provided it with identical website copy.

The High Court has issued a stark warning to solicitors who sign a certificate of compliance on non-compliant witness statements so their clients can have their day in court.

A law firm waived its equitable lien when it replaced its original retainer with a fixed-fee agreement (FFA) and deed of charge over the client’s assets, the Supreme Court has ruled.

A non-party to a property dispute, condemned in his absence by a recorder for dishonest conspiracy, was the victim of an “unlawful judicial act” which breached his human rights, the High Court has ruled.

A £600,000 print and digital advertising campaign to draw public attention to the landmark £17bn Mastercard class action began yesterday.

Shares in RBG Holdings PLC – which owns law firms Rosenblatt and Memery Crystal – dived by 23% yesterday after having to write off £4m because of its litigation funding arm.

The time between issue and trial for fast- and multi-track claims has now exceeded 75 weeks, the longest this century, according to the latest government figures.

The BSB is considering following the SRA in issuing guidance on SLAPPs. It comes as the solicitors acting for Conservative Party chairman Nadeem Zahawi have been reported under the SRA notice.

A woman whose solicitors’ error meant she was too late to challenge her mother’s will has been given permission to bring her action out of time.

The Solicitors Regulation Authority has been awarded a £120,000 government grant to explore ways to increase the use of technology-enabled dispute resolution.