Litigation/Dispute Resolution
Judge refers KC for contempt hearing over closing speech
The KC accused of not following court directions in his closing speech has been referred to a presiding judge to consider contempt proceedings.
Judge given warning over dozens of outstanding decisions
A judge who failed to deliver 46 judgments and other decisions in a reasonable time has been issued with a formal warning for misconduct.
Judge disallows £30k success fee over inadequate LEI enquiries
The Senior Costs Judge has disallowed a law firm’s £30,000 success fee because it failed to make reasonable enquiries about legal expenses insurance.
Judge condemns law firm’s “incompetence” in probate dispute
A law firm based in Hertfordshire has been severely criticised by a High Court judge for the “heinous” errors it made and its “simple incompetence” in pursuing a probate dispute.
Class action firm writes off £14m in fees after ‘drop hands’ settlement
Class action law firm Hausfeld has had to write off £14m in fees after the Competition Appeal Tribunal approved a drop-hands settlement of a client’s collective action.
Parliamentary pincer movement aims to up SLAPPs law pressure
The second of two private members’ bills to introduce an anti-SLAPPs law will be introduced in the House of Commons today in a bid to pressure the government to act.
Solicitor who believed court made error cleared of dishonesty
A veteran solicitor who genuinely believed a court had entered judgment against his client by error has been cleared of multiple allegations made against him at a tribunal.
CJC launches review of track limits and High Court boundary
A “generational” review of court track limits and the boundary between the High Court and county court has been kicked off by the Civil Justice Council.
Litigation funder fails in bid for greater profit from Mastercard claim
The Divisional Court has rejected the high-profile challenge by a litigation funder to its return from the Merricks Mastercard claim, which settled for £200m.
Litigation funding reform remains our intention, minister tells MPs
Litigation funding reform, the interest on lawyers’ client accounts scheme and the regulation of legal AI tools were all on the agenda for justice minister Sarah Sackman yesterday.
Claims firm expects winding-up petition to be dismissed
A North-West consumer claims law firm that was facing a winding-up petition has paid its debt and expects the matter to be formally concluded soon.
Consumers need “clearer signposting” to legal expenses insurance
There should be “clearer national signposting” to point consumers towards both legal advice services and insurance-backed provision, a report has recommended.
LeO not set up to handle solicitor/client costs disputes – for now
The Legal Ombudsman is open to a discussion on it replacing the courts for costs disputes between solicitors and their clients – but would not be in a position to actually do it for some time.
Solicitor took money in “fraudulent breach of trust”
A solicitor has been ordered to pay hundreds of thousands of pounds after the High Court made findings of fraud and fraudulent breach of trust against him.
County court delays continue to fall, figures show
Delays in the county courts continue to fall – and sharply, according to the latest official figures from the Ministry of Justice.
Blog
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.
Is Google becoming pay-to-play for law firms?
For years, law firms have been told that SEO is the long-term alternative to paying for every click. That principle hasn’t disappeared but search results have changed significantly.
Reports
Associates
