Category: chambers articles

The Effect of Foreign Jurisdiction Clauses on the Summary Enforcement of UK Adjudication Awards in Construction Contracts – 39 Essex Chambers

Posted February 25th, 2021 in chambers articles, construction industry, contracts, dispute resolution, enforcement, foreign jurisdictions, jurisdiction, news by sally

‘In the very interesting case of Motacus Constructions Ltd v Paolo Castelli SPA [2021] EWHC 356 (TCC), handed down on 22 February 2021 Judge Hodge QC determined:

“the apparently novel question whether the inclusion within a construction contracts for works in England of an exclusive jurisdiction clause in favour of a foreign court precludes the English court from entertaining proceedings for breach of the term implied by paragraph 23 of the Scheme [i.e. the Scheme for Construction Contracts] that the decision of an adjudicator binds the parties until the final determination of the dispute”.’

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39 Essex Chambers, 24th February 2021

Source: www.39essex.com

Council misapplied its Allocation Scheme by treating a “preference” given to families with children as an automatic decision in their favour – Garden Court Chambers

Posted February 19th, 2021 in chambers articles, children, families, housing, judicial review, local government, news by sally

‘The Claimant lived with her three adult children, one of whom (Zakiya) had cerebral palsy and learning difficulties. Due to her disabilities, Zakiya needed to live in a property with various adaptations, including a level-access shower, access to stairs with bilateral handrails, and (preferably) a downstairs toilet.’

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Garden Court Chambers, 17th February 2021

Source: www.gardencourtchambers.co.uk

Committal for contempt: CPR Part 81 and recent cases – Guildhall Chambers

Posted February 19th, 2021 in chambers articles, civil procedure rules, contempt of court, news by sally

‘As Foxton J observed in Integral Petroleum SA v Petrogat FZE [2020] EWHC 558 (Comm) at [26], applications for committal for contempt of court have become an increasingly common feature of High Court litigation, particularly in the Business and Property Courts.’

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Guildhall Chambers, 12th February 2021

Source: www.guildhallchambers.co.uk

Contentious Wills & Probate Part III – Parklane Plowden Chambers

Posted February 19th, 2021 in chambers articles, forfeiture, news, probate, wills by sally

‘Last year there were two reported decisions in respect of the forfeiture rule. These are worth mention given the rarity of reported cases in this area.’

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Parklane Plowden Chambers, 17th February 2021

Source: www.parklaneplowden.co.uk

Judge rejects use of frozen assets for legal expenses – OUT-LAW.com

Posted February 19th, 2021 in assets recovery, chambers articles, damages, enforcement notices, fraud, judgments, news by tracey

‘A recent ruling by the High Court in London has highlighted the benefits to businesses of using freezing orders to protect and recover assets, as well as the willingness of the courts in England and Wales to support the enforcement of judgments, experts in civil fraud and asset recovery have said.’

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OUT-LAW.com, 19th February 2021

Source: www.pinsentmasons.com

Environmental Law News Update – Six Pump Court

Posted February 19th, 2021 in bills, chambers articles, delay, energy, environmental health, environmental protection, news, waste by sally

‘In this latest Environmental Law News Update, Charles Morgan, Noémi Byrd and Mark Davies consider a recent case involving the application of Energy National Policy Statements to nationally significant infrastructure projects, developments on legislation to curb sewage overflows and further delays for the Environment Bill.’

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Six Pump Court, 5th February 2021

Source: www.6pumpcourt.co.uk

Provision of support to trafficking victims following a negative conclusive grounds decision – Garden Court Chambers

Posted February 19th, 2021 in appeals, benefits, chambers articles, expert witnesses, government departments, news, trafficking in human beings, victims by sally

‘In MN v SSHD [2020] EWCA Civ 1746 the Court of Appeal considered several linked cases brought by victims of trafficking who had received negative Conclusive Grounds decisions.’

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Garden Court Chambers, 17th February 2021

Source: www.gardencourtchambers.co.uk

Directors’ duties to disclose conflicts of interest: Fairford Water Ski Club v Cohoon & Craig Cohoon Watersports [2021] EWCA Civ 143 – Guildhall Chambers

Posted February 19th, 2021 in appeals, chambers articles, company directors, conflict of interest, disclosure, fees, news, statutory interpretation by sally

‘On 9 February 2021, the Court of Appeal unanimously allowed Mr Cohoon and Craig Cohoon Watersports’ (“Watersports”) appeal against the decision of His Honour Judge Russen QC at first instance ([2020] EWHC 290 (Comm)).’

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Guildhall Chambers, 15th February 2021

Source: www.guildhallchambers.co.uk

Contentious Wills & Probate Case Law Roundup 2020: Part II – Parklane Plowden Chambers

Posted February 19th, 2021 in chambers articles, news, probate, wills by sally

‘Two validity cases in particular stood out last year and both turned on whether or not a testator suffered from “insane delusions” rendering their wills invalid. There are fewer reported cases giving guidance on this strand of the Banks v Goodfellow test (most cases I deal with revolve around old age psychiatry) so these recent cases are worth some scrutiny.’

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Parklane Plowden Chambers, 12th February 2021

Source: www.parklaneplowden.co.uk

Free speech in Universities – Monckton Chambers

Posted February 18th, 2021 in chambers articles, compensation, freedom of expression, news, universities by sally

‘Free speech in Universities, or the lack thereof, is in the spotlight. On 16 February 2021, it is was reported in the mainstream media that the government is to bring forward legislation that will enable academics, students or visiting students who are “no-platformed” to sue universities for compensation where they feel they have suffered because their right to free speech has been curtailed. Apparently, the proposal is one of a number which will be put forward by the Secretary of State for Education, in order to protect free speech in universities in England. The Guardian reported that “the government wants to introduce a statutory tort for breaches of the free speech duty, which would enable academic staff or students who have been expelled, dismissed or demoted to seek redress through the courts.” The government is also proposing to appoint a “free speech champion”, who will be responsible for investigating potential infringements of free speech in the higher education sector.’

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Monckton Chambers, 17th February 2021

Source: www.monckton.com

Abuse of process? Res judicata and collateral attacks on prior decisions after Allsop v Banner Jones Ltd and another – Hardwicke Chambers

Posted February 18th, 2021 in abuse of process, chambers articles, negligence, news, res judicata, striking out by sally

‘In Allsop v Banner Jones Ltd and another, the Court of Appeal considered the application of Phosphate Sewage v Molleson to applications to strike out a claim on the basis of abuse of process. The decision is a detailed exploration of the scope of the doctrines of res judicata, collateral attacks of previous decision and abuse of process. As such it is valuable reading to litigators generally and particularly those in the field of professional negligence.’

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Hardwicke Chambers, 12th February 2021

Source: hardwicke.co.uk

The modern family – the interpretation of children, spouses and civil partners in older trust deeds – Wilberforce Chambers

Posted February 18th, 2021 in chambers articles, children, civil partnerships, interpretation, married persons, news, trusts by sally

‘It has become cliché to say that modern familial arrangements are vastly different now to how they were 50 years ago, but that does not make it any less true. In 2019, almost half of all births were outside of a marriage or civil-partnership, and 3,440 children were adopted from local authority care. With the passage of the Marriage (Same-Sex Couples) Act 2013, and the Civil Partnership (Opposite Sex Couples) Regulations 2019, the range of relationships that can be legally recognised, and the form that this recognition takes are also very different. Given the age of many settlements, traditional definitions of “children” or “spouse” can cause real difficulties.’

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Wilberforce Chambers, 17th February 2021

Source: www.wilberforce.co.uk

Drafting an information for breach of an enforcement notice: Ceredigion CC v Robinson & others – 5SAH

Posted February 17th, 2021 in appeals, chambers articles, criminal procedure, Crown Court, drafting, enforcement notices, housing, local government, news, planning, statutory interpretation, time limits by sally

‘An allegation of an offence in an information or charge must describe the offence in ordinary language and make it clear what the prosecutor alleges. Amendments to section 179 of the Town and Country Planning Act 1990 (TCPA 1990) mean that it is no longer necessary, when prosecuting a defendant for non-compliance with an enforcement notice, to aver within the information the date upon which the period of compliance expired. The court held that the exact moment at which the compliance period expired was no longer of critical or defining importance. It is a necessary inference within an information that the date upon which the offence is said to have been committed, occurred after the period of compliance had expired. The prosecutor would still need to prove as a fact that the date for compliance had expired, but this fact was not essential to enable the defendant to understand what the prosecutor was alleging.’

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5SAH, 16th February 2021

Source: www.5sah.co.uk

Effect on Brexit on Part 26A Arrangements and Reconstructions – Wilberforce Chambers

Posted February 11th, 2021 in brexit, chambers articles, EC law, insolvency, news by sally

‘It is one of the ironies of Brexit that the UK has effectively implemented many of the features of the 2019 EU Restructuring Directive[1], providing for restructuring plans with cross-class cram down and moratoria, before all of the remaining EU member states (although the Corporate Insolvency and Governance Act 2020 was avowedly not the implementation of EU law). The EU member states are required to implement the Restructuring Directive by 17 July 2021, although to date only Germany, the Netherlands and Greece have done so and many more are expected to seek an extension of the deadline to July 2022.’

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Wilberforce Chambers, February 2021

Source: www.wilberforce.co.uk

The show must now go on – St Ives Chambers

Posted February 11th, 2021 in adjournment, chambers articles, coronavirus, news, remote hearings, witnesses by sally

‘In the recent case of Bilta (UK) Ltd and others v SVS Securities Plc and others [2021] EWHC 36 (Ch) Mr Justice Smith considered an application on behalf of the Fifth Defendant, Traditional Financial Services (‘TFS’), for an adjournment 1 week before the commencement of a 5 week trial. The case was to be heard in the Rolls Building as part of the Financial List.’

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St Ives Chambers, February 2021

Source: www.stiveschambers.co.uk

Court of Protection Newsletter – Spire Barristers

Posted February 11th, 2021 in autism, chambers articles, Court of Protection, deprivation of liberty safeguards, disabled persons, elderly, hospitals, learning difficulties, news by sally

‘Welcome to the latest issue of Spire Barristers’ Public Law Newsletter covering news from around the web, practice updates and case reviews in Court of Protection and Public Law matters.’

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Spire Barristers, 10th February 2021

Source: spirebarristers.co.uk

Insolvent Defendants – St John’s Chambers

Posted February 11th, 2021 in chambers articles, insolvency, insurance, news, personal injuries, third parties by sally

‘The continuing impact of the Covid-19 pandemic is slowly but surely beginning to cast a shadow over personal injury claims. As the months have rolled on, viable businesses, starved of custom, are facing the prospect of being forced to cease trading. Those same businesses are the Defendants in many ongoing and pending claims. So, what happens when a Defendant becomes insolvent?’

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St John's Chambers, February 2021

Source: stjohnsbuildings.com

Legal issues relating to trees – New Square Chambers

Posted February 11th, 2021 in chambers articles, news, nuisance, trees, trespass by sally

‘Trees can provoke a surprising number of legal disputes which frequently lead to either civil or even criminal litigation.’

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New Square Chambers, 1st February 2021

Source: www.newsquarechambers.co.uk

Employment Law Case Update – St John’s Buildings

Posted February 11th, 2021 in chambers articles, employment, employment tribunals, news by sally

‘2020 saw the Employment Tribunal and higher courts give out fewer judgments due to the pandemic. However, all was not lost and there were still some key judgments shaping the employment sphere and that will no doubt be of interest to lawyers and HR professionals alike.’

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St John's Buildings, 8th February 2021

Source: stjohnsbuildings.com

Know your limits, show your limits: Lessons from Food Standards Agency v Bakers of Nailsea Ltd (2020) – St Philips Barristers

Posted February 11th, 2021 in chambers articles, criminal procedure, food hygiene, interpretation, limitations, news, prosecutions, regulations, time limits by sally

‘The Food Standards Agency (“FSA”) made three applications for the issue of a summons to commence proceedings against Bakers of Nailsea Ltd (“BNL”), the food business operator for an abattoir in Nailsea, near Bristol, for offences contrary to the Food Safety and Hygiene (England) Regulations 2013 (“the 2013 Regulations”).’

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St Philips Barristers, 9th February 2021

Source: st-philips.com