Litigation/Dispute Resolution
“Keeping us ahead of the world” – Arbitration Act receives Royal Assent
The Arbitration Act received Royal Assent yesterday, with the government declaring it would keep the UK “ahead of the rest” and practitioners welcoming the new law.
Law firm’s bid to restrain winding-up petition in doubt
The High Court is to reconsider its intention to allow a Manchester law firm to restrain a claims provider from presenting a winding-up petition.
Tribunal approves landmark £200m Mastercard settlement
The Competition Appeal Tribunal last week approved the £200m settlement of former solicitor Walter Merricks with Mastercard, in a case once valued at £14bn.
Barristers win 25% increase in rates for government work
Barristers doing government work will see a 25% increase in rates from 1 April, in some cases the first rise since the panels were first introduced in 1997.
First unsuccessful opt-out class rep to pay £14m in interim costs
The unsuccessful claimant in the first opt-out collective action decided by the Competition Appeal Tribunal has been ordered to make an interim costs payment of £14m.
Call for new anti-SLAPP mechanism after “false dawn”
There needs to be a new early disposal mechanism for SLAPPs, academics have said, describing existing anti-SLAPP provisions as “a false dawn that will not address the problem”.
Supreme Court refuses Treasury intervention in motor finance case
Claimant lawyers yesterday celebrated the Supreme Court’s decision to reject HM Treasury’s bid to intervene in the motor finance appeal.
Barrister and law centre cleared of giving negligent advice
A barrister was not negligent in his advice over possession proceedings and the law centre that instructed him was entitled to rely on his expertise, the High Court has ruled.
Businessman seeks injunction to stop publication of lawyer’s letter
Green industrialist Dale Vince is seeking an injunction to stop a Conservative peer he is suing for libel from publishing his lawyer’s response to the letter before action on the grounds that it too is defamatory.
Exclusive: Motor finance case solicitors hit out at Treasury intervention
The government’s bid to intervene in the Supreme Court hearing on the motor finance appeals breaches the constitutional separation of powers, solicitors for two of the claimants have argued.
Only 11% of law firms “likely to pay” new FOS complaint fee
Only one in 10 law firms handling financial services mis-selling matters will have to pay the new £250 case fee to the Financial Ombudsman Service, it has estimated.
Partner struck off for misleading clients about state of claim
A partner who misled his clients for two years about the status of their claim – leading them to believe it had been issued when it had not been – has been struck off.
“No need” for stricter rules on litigation funding
There is “no need” for stricter regulation of third-party litigation in the EU, an umbrella group of 44 consumer organisations in both Europe and the UK has said.
“Unacceptable” for actor’s lawyers to allege evidence fabrication
It was “unacceptable” for lawyers representing the actor Noel Clarke to allege The Guardian newspaper fabricated evidence in defending his libel claim, the High Court has ruled.
Carr floats formal mediation council for civil and commercial work
The Lady Chief Justice has suggested that a new mediation council should be set up for civil and commercial matters to bolster England and Wales’s status as a leading international mediation centre.