Litigation/Dispute Resolution
Fixed costs extension “has increased deductions from damages”
The continued push for fixed costs has resulted in more deductions from clients’ damages and raises questions about whether justice is being achieved.
Court of Appeal backs strike-out of £68m law firm negligence claim
The Court of Appeal has dismissed a challenge to the striking out of £68m negligence claim against Yorkshire law firm Lupton Fawcett following a failed property development schemes.
FCA goes public with claims company investigation after court battle
The Financial Conduct Authority is investigating The Claims Protection Agency Ltd over its motor finance work, it has emerged after a High Court battle over anonymity.
Consumers want lawyers to help them with FCA car finance scheme
Most consumers will use a lawyer to navigate the FCA’s car finance redress scheme – and almost all will go to court for more compensation, according to research.
SRA urged not to ban ‘no win, no fee’ label
The Law Society has argued against banning use of the term ‘no win, no fee’ by solicitors, which would risk diverting consumers to unregulated firms.
WhatsApp messages form part of firm’s file – if they charge for them
A law firm’s file includes WhatApp messages and other forms of digital communication where it then seeks to charge for them, a costs judge has ruled.
Supreme Court overturns decision that class action should be opt-out
The Supreme Court has reinstated a decision that £2.7bn collective proceedings should be on an opt-in, rather than opt-out, basis.
Complex court processes “shut out litigants in person”
Complex court administrative processes “increasingly function as gatekeepers to justice” and shut out litigants in person, research has found.
Opt-out class action first for businesses as car delivery case settles
Businesses are to benefit from an opt-out class action for the first time after the last two defendants in the car delivery charges case settled for £54m.
Second time lucky as government agrees to reverse PACCAR
The government is to legislate to reverse the Supreme Court’s 2023 PACCAR ruling, which has brought huge uncertainty to the litigation funding market.
Law Society applies to intervene in Mazur appeal
The Law Society is to seek to intervene in the Mazur appeal amid specialist lawyers’ prediction that more costs disputes are on the way following the High Court decision.
Top litigation funder puts consumer claims fund into liquidation
Katch Fund Solutions – which is funding consumer claims worth hundreds of millions of pounds – has put its litigation fund into liquidation, it has emerged.
“Tide is turning” as county court delays continue to fall
Delays in the county courts are finally on the decline but they still comfortably exceed a year for anything but the small claims track, according to new figures.
MoJ floats referral fee ban to curb housing disrepair misconduct
A ban on referral fees and an increase in the small claims limit are among ideas floated yesterday by the government to curb “unscrupulous” behaviour in housing disrepair cases.
Ex-law firm owner sentenced to 12 months in jail for contempt
The non-lawyer owner of a defunct law firm has been sentenced to 12 months’ imprisonment for contempt after she failed to comply with a freezing order obtained by its previous owners.
Blog
The overlooked hate crime reform in Crime & Policing Act
Reforms introduced by the Crime and Policing Act 2026 mark a significant development in hate crime law in England and Wales, recognising hostility related to sex as an aggravated offence.
The SRA’s strict liability gamble has failed. Good
The Court of Appeal handed down its judgment in Dentons v SRA on 27 April, and the profession is right to welcome it. It is the second time in short succession that the court has corrected the SRA.
How AI presents real opportunities for barristers
AI presents real opportunities to improve access to justice and to support barristers in day-to-day legal practice. But we all need to understand and mitigate the risks.
