Litigation/Dispute Resolution
MPs lament “missed opportunities” of court reform programme
The Ministry of Justice and courts service have “missed opportunities to swiftly deliver an ambitious court reform programme”, MPs on the justice select committee said today.
Judge could hand down judgment despite settlement
A deputy master could hand down her judgment on a case that had been heard but settled the day before she was due to circulate a draft striking out the claims, the High Court has ruled.
Court slams “reprehensible” firm for trying to shift blame for failings
The senior Queen’s Bench master has strongly criticised a Liverpool law firm over its approach to the Volkswagen emissions case and trying to blame other solicitors for its failings.
Ince Group granted injunction after ransomware attack
Listed law firm The Ince Group has been granted an interim injunction to stop hackers from releasing confidential data on the dark web if it does not pay a ransom.
SRA rebukes leading class action firm over conduct of struck-out claim
Class action firm Hausfeld has been rebuked by the Solicitors Regulation Authority for allowing its independence to be compromised in the conduct of a massive group claim.
Client suing law firm ordered to pay security for costs
A businessman whose property company is suing a law firm for damages cannot provide security for costs in the form of an indemnity backed by legal charges and must provide cash.
Class action firm allowed to terminate retainer, leaving 183 LiPs behind
The High Court has approved class action firm PGMBM terminating a retainer that leaves 183 litigants to continue their battle for compensation alone.
Collective redress lawyers join forces amid calls for reform
Calls for long- and short-term reform to the group action regime yesterday marked the launch of the Collective Redress Lawyers Association, as a tribunal refused to certify two opt-out actions.
Mind the gap – Economic duress of lawful act
On 18 August 2021, in Pakistan International Airline Corporation v Times Travel (UK) Ltd (Appellant) [2021] UKSC, the Supreme Court unanimously held that economic (or lawful act) duress does exist under English law.
Firm’s error gave sex offender access to child’s confidential data
National law firm BLM has won a claim against a convicted sex offender it accidentally gave access to a vulnerable child’s confidential information and who then asked for money to delete it.
Choose your submissions wisely, says judge in time-estimate warning
The judge in charge of the Commercial Court has complained again about inadequate time estimates, telling advocates they cannot ask judges to read authorities after the hearing as a shortcut.
“Vested interests” of solicitors holding back ADR, government told
Solicitors’ “vested interests in pursuing lengthy litigation” are holding back the take-up of ADR, the government has been told. Their “adversarial language” was also viewed as aggravating tensions.
Partner celebrated “huge victory” by accidentally breaking CA embargo
A partner who celebrated a “huge jurisdictional victory” with a WhatsApp message which broke a Court of Appeal embargo has apologised to the court.
Vos: People with small claims want speed more than justice
People with small claims care more about resolving their disputes quickly than whether the outcome is the right one, the Master of the Rolls has claimed.
Bott urges solicitors to put all defendants on notice of equitable lien
Litigators should now put defendants on notice at the start of any matter that they will enforce an equitable lien if necessary, the senior partner of Bott & Co has advised.
Blog
The SRA’s client money reforms: good intentions, questionable execution
On the face of it, the SRA’s plans to tighten protections around client money sounds sensible. The detail, as ever, tells a more complicated story.
Recruitment, retention and reward in the legal accounts world
Understanding the legal finance market is important – not just for those actively involved in it day-to-day but also for leaders within law firms.
From ‘year zero’ to £6.5m – how a law firm found its second life
In 2018, I hit what I call ‘year zero’. On paper, Olliers Solicitors was a top-tier criminal defence firm but beneath the surface, I could see we were at a crossroads.
