Litigation/Dispute Resolution
Court scolds QC but decides against referring him to BSB
A QC who misused the urgent applications procedure for a Brexit-related judicial review has been ticked off by the Divisional Court but escaped being referred to the Bar Standards Board.
Lord Chief Justice makes direct plea to Buckland for more court cash
The Lord Chief Justice yesterday made a direct plea to the Lord Chancellor for more investment in the courts system, citing insufficient judges and staff and inadequate buildings and technology.
Court refuses to block potential claim against solicitors over fees
The High Court has refused to issue an order to prevent a collapsed company’s investors from trying in the future to reclaim the legal fees paid by its boss in defending him from their civil claim.
CA upholds privilege claim to information extracted from solicitor “by deception”
The Court of Appeal has upheld a decision that correspondence between solicitors a judge found involved “an element of deception” as to its real purpose was covered by litigation privilege.
Judge’s surprise at firm’s failure to ensure “basic compliance” with CPR
A High Court judge has expressed her surprise at a London law firm’s failure to ensure “basic levels of compliance” with the Civil Procedure Rules by a client and its experts.
In-house lawyers and litigators launch separate green initiatives
In-house lawyers and litigators have launched separate environmental initiatives to push for, respectively, “real change” in their organisations and smaller carbon footprints.
Judge criticises plan for witnesses to give unsupervised evidence from home
The High Court has criticised parties that agreed without seeking permission that witnesses in a remote hearing would give evidence from their own homes unsupervised.
Firm self-reports to SRA over court recording breach
A London law firm has escaped judicial punishment after reporting itself to the SRA after a transcriber it hired recorded remote court proceedings without the judge’s permission.
Digital courts take next step forward with damages claims pilot
HM Courts & Tribunals Service has launched a pilot scheme that allows lawyers to manage and progress the initial stages of certain civil damages claims online.
Leading firm is latest to target business energy mis-selling claims
Top Welsh firm Hugh James has become the latest to target the nascent business energy claims market after joining the legal panel for a leading claims company in the sector.
Leading PI firm recruits as it diversifies into business energy claims
Private equity-backed Winn Solicitors is ramping up its operation to handle mis-sold business energy contracts as it bids to diversify from its core personal injury business.
High Court upholds judgment on law firms’ unpaid fees
The High Court has rejected a challenge to a judgment in default obtained by two law firms whose retainers were terminated by a Swiss company, which then failed to pay them £500,000 in fees combined.
Immigration and civil litigation hit hardest by Covid-19
Immigration and civil litigation were the two areas of legal practice hit hardest by the pandemic last year, with private client and family law “insulated” from the impact, new research has found.
Judge rejects recusal application after barristers withdraw
A judge has rejected a recusal application on the grounds of apparent bias made after two barristers withdrew at the last minute from a hearing and complained about his conduct of the case.
IP lawyers face multi-million pound claim over “secret commissions”
A representative action has been launched against IP law firm Marks & Clerk alleging that it “grossly overcharged” thousands of SMEs through a “secret commissions scheme” with CPA Global.
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.
