Litigation/Dispute Resolution
Negligence claim over law firm’s ground rent advice dismissed
A circuit judge has dismissed a negligence claim over a London law firm’s alleged failure to give a client proper advice on a how much the ground rent would increase under a lease.
CA: Barrister’s conduct of own litigation “not a private matter”
A High Court judge was right to hold that a barrister’s conduct of litigation in her own right was not a private matter beyond the Bar Standards Board’s reach, the Court of Appeal has ruled.
Soaring insolvencies boost litigation funder to record year
Listed insolvency litigation funder Manolete Partners has enjoyed a record year so far as the number of insolvencies in the UK soars, with more new cases than ever before.
Law Society calls in leading figures to support ’21st century justice’ project
The Law Society has pulled together figures from law firms, technology, NGOs and business to support a project looking at how the justice system can be made “fit for the future”.
Unregulated paralegal firm “conducted litigation” in possession claim
A CILEX member running an unregulated business conducted litigation in breach of the Legal Services Act 2007 when she acted on a possession claim, the High Court has ruled.
Government decides to sign Singapore mediation convention
The government has decided that the UK should join the Singapore Convention, which provides a framework for international recognition and enforcement of commercial mediation agreements.
Bellamy declines opportunity to back fixed costs uprating
Justice minister Lord Bellamy has refused to commit to regularly uprating the new or existing fixed recoverable costs by inflation.
Solicitor validly served with claim at address on SRA website
A sole practitioner was validly served with a negligence claim at an address listed for him on the Solicitors Regulation Authority’s website, the High Court has ruled.
IP law firm fails in bid to strike out ‘secret commissions’ claim
A leading intellectual property law firm has failed in its bid to strike out a representative action brought over ten of millions of pounds in alleged secret commissions it earned on IP renewals.
Negligence claim against law firm to go ahead after limitation ruling
A negligence claim over inheritance tax advice provided by City law firm Charles Russell Speechlys is to go ahead after the High Court held that it is not time-barred.
Solicitors “went too far” after client was given vulnerability order
Solicitors were wrong to allow a client to see cross-examination questions that had been drafted by the other side under a vulnerable witness order, a High Court judge has held.
Pilot suggests mediation in possession cases unpopular
The government’s tenancy mediation service pilot, which hoped to have 3,000 successful resolutions, ended up with just four, a review published this week has shown.
City firm’s advice to AA boss was negligent but did not cause loss
City law firm Rosenblatt was in breach of duty and negligent in advice it gave to the sacked chairman of the AA but this did not cause him any loss, the High Court has ruled.
Judge inappropriately interrupted cross-examination, CA rules
A judge who interrupted a claimant 52 times during cross-examination acted inappropriately, the Court of Appeal has held. It accepted he was trying to help the claimant.
New funder for public interest cases which “clarify the law”
A new initiative launching next month aims to provide a stream of funding for public interest cases which “clarify the law” and are unsuitable for crowdfunding.
Blog
Why good governance matters when managing Law Society forms
Everyday legal transactions rely on Law Society forms. But they are often treated as static templates rather than what they really are: living documents that change over time.
A letter from the SRA? Your first reaction matters
An email from the SRA has a way of rearranging a working day. It arrives in the same inbox as everything else, often in the same measured tone, yet it carries a different weight.
Regulate sole practices on evidence, not turnover
For a sole practice, the SRA’s plan that I cannot hold a compliance role if my firm has more than £600,000 of turnover is not a measure of risk. It is a ceiling on growth.
Reports
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