Litigation/Dispute Resolution
Government puts focus on SRA over solicitors handling SLAPPs
Addressing so-called SLAPPs is “a behavioural issue requiring regulatory interventions” against lawyers as much as using legislation, the government has said.
Judge condemns “clearest breach” of witness statement rules
A High Court judge has condemned the “clearest case of failure to comply” with the new practice direction on witness statements that he had seen since it came into force last April.
Supreme Court upholds solicitors’ lien in ‘uncontested’ cases
A law firm handling uncontested flight delay claims did have an equitable lien over the compensation, the Supreme Court has ruled, overturning the Court of Appeal.
Tax QC fights off £40m negligence claim over film financing schemes
The High Court has dismissed a £40m negligence claim against a leading tax barrister over advice he provided on three film financing schemes.
Solicitors and expert’s “serious trangressions” see evidence thrown out
A High Court master has revoked permission for the claimants in a group action to rely on an expert’s evidence because of “serious transgressions” by him and the group’s solicitors.
Scottish law firm can be sued for negligence in England
A Scottish law firm, which has no offices south of the border, has failed in a jurisdiction challenge to halt a negligence claim over advice a solicitor gave over a Cornish wind farm project.
A&O’s multi-strand strategy to improve diversity of barristers it uses
Broadening the exposure of its solicitors to new barristers, to avoid them just instructing the same counsel, is among the initiatives Allen & Overy is using to improve the diversity of those it instructs.
Two major representative actions discontinued in wake of Google ruling
Two major representative actions over alleged data breaches have been discontinued in the wake of last year’s Supreme Court ruling in Lloyd v Google, it has emerged.
Witness tried to give remote evidence while driving a van
A witness who tried to give evidence by video, first in a van and then in a busy office, shows what can go wrong with remote hearings, a judge has warned.
Court of Appeal to start again in test case on deductions from PI damages
The much-anticipated hearing in Belsner was scrapped yesterday after the Court of Appeal raised the possibility that pre-action legal work was contentious business for costs purposes.
Suspended jail sentence for client over unpaid Farrer & Co bill
The High Court has issued a suspended jail sentence for contempt against a high-profile entrepreneur who owes London law firm Farrer & Co £200,000 in unpaid fees.
More money and an ‘initial litigation offering’ – funding boom goes on
Litigation funder Balance Legal Capital has raised £130m in the first close for a new fund as we round up developments in the funding world, including an ‘initial legal offering’ to the public.
Vos issues stern warning to chambers and law firms about embargoes
The Court of Appeal has issued a stern warning about breaking embargoes on judgments after a leading chambers accidentally issued a press release a day before the ruling was handed down.
Press panel pleads with government to introduce legal costs incentive
The government’s failure to commence legislation on costs in libel and other publication proceedings is denying members of the public justice, the Press Recognition Panel has argued.
Judge’s despair at solicitors acting “like schoolchildren in the playground”
The High Court has expressed its despair at solicitors conducting litigation “like schoolchildren in the playground”, as well as “pernicious” growth of satellite costs disputes.
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.
