Litigation/Dispute Resolution
SRA: Law firm’s work for warlord was not improper
The SRA yesterday took the unusual step of setting out why it cleared the law firm which acted for Yevgeniy Prigozhin, leader of the Wagner Group, of misconduct.
Whiplash tariff to rise on 31 May but fixed costs review delayed
The 15% uplift in the fixed fees for whiplash cases will take effect from 31 May, the fourth anniversary of the Official Injury Claim portal, justice minister Sarah Sackman has announced.
MR: “Very disappointing” end to court modernisation programme
The court modernisation project ends this month with the “very disappointing” outcome of only 23% of civil cases being digital end to end, the Master of the Rolls told MPs this week.
KC removed from panel hearing challenge to Scottish Bar rules
A Scottish silk has been removed from a Competition Appeal Tribunal panel set to hear a challenge to the rules of the Faculty of Advocates, the Scottish Bar.
Top family firm “would be prejudiced” by split trial in negligence claim
Top family law firm Payne Hicks Beach would be prejudiced by a split trial in the negligence action brought by the woman who secured the UK’s largest ever divorce award, the High Court has ruled.
Court allows City giant to progress ex-client’s claim on assignment
A major City law firm can continue bringing a case it took on assignment from former clients which could mitigate a possible professional negligence claim.
Litigation funders continue to pour money into market
Money continues to pour into the litigation finance market, with one expecting to treble its investment to £250m in the next two years and another set to launch a $75m fund.
Lawyer groups back stronger regulation of litigation funding
The Law Society, Bar Council, CILEX and the Association of Costs Lawyers have become the latest to call for stronger oversight of third-party litigation funding.
Costs judge allows £700 an hour in biggest departure from guidelines
A costs judge has allowed a leading US law firm to recover partner costs at £700 per hour, said to be the largest ever departure from the guideline hourly rates.
Thousands of privileged documents disclosed in “unprecedented” error
An “extraordinary” and “unprecedented” failure of disclosure that has seen thousands of privileged documents released to the other side has been revealed in the High Court.
Judge throws out skeleton argument for being three times too long
The High Court has refused to admit a skeleton argument that was three times the length it should have been, and ranged beyond the confines of what it should have done.
High Court reinstates negligence claim against top family law firm
A former client of a leading family law firm should be allowed to sue over its alleged failure to advise about its own negligence, the High Court has ruled.
Thousands of motor finance claims can be brought via omnibus forms
The High Court has overturned a ruling that 5,823 people with motor finance commission claims have to file individual claims, rather than sue via eight omnibus claim forms.
Litigation funder awarded £2.1m on assigned claim
A litigation funder that took assignment of an inventor’s claim that his idea was ripped off by early stage investors has been awarded £2.15m in damages.
Claimant firms at odds as judge refuses group order for £18bn PPI case
A circuit judge has refused to make a group litigation order in relation to thousands of Plevin claims brought by one class action law firm, a move competitors had opposed.