Category: chambers articles

Covid-19 and the courts – Radcliffe Chambers

Posted May 6th, 2020 in chambers articles, coronavirus, courts, live link evidence, news by sally

‘Covid-19 has posed a major challenge to courts around the world in maintaining the proper administration of justice. We can be very proud that the courts in the UK have already been innovative in making use of technology, using facilities such as Skype and Zoom to conduct not only contentious non-witness hearings, but even trials. This has enabled court business, at least in civil cases, to operate as close to normal as is possible. The UK courts, together with Australia and some US jurisdictions, have led the way in this respect. Even some major litigation centres, such as Hong Kong, are only now beginning to make use of technology to overcome the challenges posed by the virus.’

Full Story

Radcliffe Chambers, 29th April 2020

Source: radcliffechambers.com

Extensions of time and adjournment of face-to-face hearings for Covid-19 reasons – Parklane Plowden Chambers

Posted May 6th, 2020 in adjournment, chambers articles, coronavirus, courts, delay, news, time limits by sally

‘In the challenging and constraining times imposed by the Covid-19 pandemic, it can be difficult to comply with case management directions. Although the parties may agree extensions of time of up to 56 days if they do not imperil a hearing date, applications continue to be necessary where the extension may impact on a court hearing.’

Full Story

Parklane Plowden Chambers, 28th April 2020

Source: www.parklaneplowden.co.uk

Barton & Booth: Clarifying the Dishonesty Test post Ivey by Paul Dormand – Broadway House Chambers

Posted May 6th, 2020 in appeals, chambers articles, deceit, fraud, interpretation, news, theft by sally

‘The decision in Barton & Booth [2020] EWCA Crim 575 brings an end to the uncertainty surrounding the test for dishonesty, and the application of the test proposed by the Supreme Court in Ivey v Genting Casinos (UK) (trading as Cockfords Club) [2017] UKSC 67. This article will look at the departure from Ghosh, the application of the Ivey test notwithstanding its obiter status.’

Full Story

Broadway House Chambers, 1st May 2020

Source: broadwayhouse.co.uk

C19 Possession Proceedings: Current Guidance – Thomas More Chambers

Posted May 6th, 2020 in chambers articles, coronavirus, emergency powers, housing, landlord & tenant, news, repossession by sally

‘On 18 March 2020, it was announced by the government that there would be a ban on evictions for a three-month period (with effect from 27 March 2020), this has presented numerous questions to both landlords, occupiers and owners alike. Set out below is the current position in relation to action arising out of residential property occupation (commercial leases and agreements are subject to different legislative regimes).The information within this article is correct as at 26 April 2020, you are strongly advised to obtain independent legal advice if you are unsure as to your rights and obligations.’

Full Story

Thomas More Chambers, 28th April 2020

Source: www.thomasmore.co.uk

Informed Consent: Where Are We Now – Ropewalk Chambers

Posted May 6th, 2020 in appeals, chambers articles, consent, doctors, medical treatment, negligence, news, personal injuries, Supreme Court by sally

‘In Montgomery -v- Lanarkshire Health Board [2015] 1 AC 1430; [2015] UKSC 15, the Supreme Court held:

“The doctor is therefore under a duty to take reasonable care to ensure that the patient is aware of any material risks involved in any recommended treatment, and of any reasonable alternative or variant treatments. The test of materiality is whether, in the circumstances of the particular case, a reasonable person in the patient’s position would likely to attach significance to the risk, or the doctor is or should reasonably be aware that the particular patient would be likely to attach significance to it.”‘

Full Story

Ropewalk Chambers, 30th April 2020

Source: www.ropewalk.co.uk

“Justice Delayed is Justice Denied” The Covid-19 Effect – St Ives Chambers

Posted May 6th, 2020 in chambers articles, civil justice, coronavirus, courts, delay, live link evidence, news, remote hearings by sally

‘Conducting litigation in lockdown is presenting a number of challenges for civil litigators. The shift, practically overnight, to remote working is requiring lawyers to rapidly adapt their ways of working. The word from the top is that the wheels of justice must continue to turn. The default position now is that hearings should take place remotely wherever possible.’

Full Story

St Ives Chambers, 27th April 2020

Source: www.stiveschambers.co.uk

Defining the Prerogative: The story of the Case of Proclamations – Falcon Chambers

Posted May 4th, 2020 in chambers articles, constitutional history, constitutional law, legal history, news, prerogative powers by sally

‘I am going to talk about some of the great politico-legal battles in the 17th Century which established the conceptual framework for what we call the Rule of Law. English constitutional history is no longer taught in our schools or as part of training for the Bar and so you may be unfamiliar with these three stories, all of which played a vital part in the development of our law and legal system.’

Full Story

Falcon Chambers, April 2020

Source: www.falcon-chambers.com

Barton and Booth – note on the Court of Appeal decision on Ivey and Ghosh – Exchange Chambers

Posted May 4th, 2020 in appeals, chambers articles, deceit, fraud, interpretation, news by sally

‘In Barton and Booth v R [2020] EWCA Crim 575, the Criminal Division of the Court of Appeal considered the correct approach to be taken to dishonesty as it applies to the criminal law. In doing so, the Court confirmed that the test for dishonesty articulated in the Supreme Court decision of Ivey v Genting Casinos (UK) (trading as Crockfords Club) [2017] UKSC 67 displaced the test for dishonesty that had been laid down in R v Ghosh [1982] QB 1053 and which had applied in the criminal courts for 35 years.’

Full Story

Exchange Chambers, 1st May 2020

Source: www.exchangechambers.co.uk

An Insight into Business Interruption Insurance: Causation & Quantum – Hailsham Chambers

Posted May 4th, 2020 in causation, chambers articles, company law, coronavirus, damages, insurance, news by sally

‘This article is the second in a series from Hailsham Chambers addressing insurance implications from the current Covid-19 situation. It explores various causation, mitigation and quantum issues that are likely to arise in that litigation.’

Full Story

Hailsham Chambers, April 2020

Source: www.hailshamchambers.com

COVID-19 Deaths and PPE – The Coroner’s Role – Parklane Plowden Chambers

Posted May 4th, 2020 in chambers articles, coronavirus, coroners, doctors, emergency services, health, health & safety, hospitals, inquests, news, nurses by sally

‘Inevitably the COVID-19 pandemic will result in a significant increase in the workload of coroners and the number of inquests being heard. Cases where the virus may have been contracted in the workplace setting including frontline workers because of the lack of personal protective equipment (PPE) may be one significant area of potential inquiry.’

Full Story

Parklane Plowden Chambers, 4th May 2020

Source: www.parklaneplowden.co.uk

Covid-19 deaths and Inquests – Doughty Street Chambers

Posted May 4th, 2020 in chambers articles, coronavirus, coroners, death in custody, employment, health & safety, hospitals, industrial injuries, inquests, news by sally

‘An Inquest is not a foregone conclusion, since death by prevalent disease will not necessarily be considered “unnatural”. There is new guidance issued today (28 April 2020) by the Chief Coroner as to the circumstances in which in Inquest will be appropriate.’

Full Story

Doughty Street Chambers, 28th April 2020

Source: insights.doughtystreet.co.uk

Coronavirus and Clinical Negligence – Coronavirus: Guidance for Lawyers and Businesses

Posted May 1st, 2020 in chambers articles, coronavirus, damages, doctors, emergency powers, hospitals, medical treatment, negligence, news, nurses by sally

‘Nigel Poole QC considers the question: how will the Coronavirus pandemic affect clinical negligence litigation in England and Wales?’

Full Story

Coronavirus: Guidance for Lawyers and Businesses, 30th April 2020

Source: lawinthetimeofcorona.wordpress.com

Bitcoin: The Future of Money? – St Paul’s Chambers

Posted April 29th, 2020 in banking, chambers articles, cryptocurrencies, financial regulation, internet, news by sally

‘Cryptocurrency: The Future of Money? Bitcoin is just one of many cryptocurrencies (internet currency). It’s not the first but it’s the first that works and the one that’s caught everyone’s attention. As with any currency comes regulation and in light of the rise of Bitcoin in recent years, it’s important to consult a Bitcoin lawyer if seeking advice in cryptocurrency law, regarding Bitcoin law.’

Full Story

St Paul's Chambers, 24th April 2020

Source: www.stpaulschambers.com

COVID-19 and Immigration Bail Applications – One Pump Court

Posted April 24th, 2020 in bail, chambers articles, coronavirus, detention, health, health & safety, human rights, immigration, news by sally

‘Whilst the current pandemic has affected us all, those in detention are impacted in particularly harmful ways. Visits to immigration removal centres have been suspended, and those with COVID-19 symptoms are effectively placed in solitary confinement. The Council of Europe’s Commissioner for Human Rights has called for immigration detainees to be released, as many States have had to suspend removals and it is unclear when these might be resumed. The primary goal of immigration detention is to effect removal, and so continued detention as such may seem arbitrary.’

Full Story

One Pump Court, 21st April 2020

Source: onepumpcourt.co.uk

Do business tenants prevented from trading have a remedy under the Human Rights Act 1998? – Falcon Chambers

Posted April 24th, 2020 in chambers articles, coronavirus, health, human rights, landlord & tenant, news, proportionality by sally

‘On 20 April 2020, the Hospitality Union wrote a letter to the Chancellor of the Exchequer asking for a “National Time Out” under which there would be a nine-month national payment pause granted to business tenants. This would be “a crucial period of payment postponement when commercial rents, and the debt and interest payments secured on those premises, are pushed to the back end of leases and term loans.”’

Full Story

Falcon Chambers, 23rd April 2020

Source: www.falcon-chambers.com

COVID-19 and Prisons: The Coronavirus Restricted Temporary Release Scheme, Pregnant Prisoners and Children in Custody – One Pump Court

Posted April 24th, 2020 in chambers articles, children, coronavirus, detention, health, health & safety, immigration, jurisdiction, news, pregnancy, prisons by sally

‘COVID-19 is a dangerous reality for prisoners. As of 18 April 2020, confirmed cases of COVID-19 have been reported in over half of prisons in England and Wales. There have been 13 suspected COVID-19 deaths among prisoners[1]. Amongst this wider concern, those who are pregnant and children in custody may be particularly anxious during this unprecedented time.’

Full Story

One Pump Court, 21st April 2020

Source: onepumpcourt.co.uk

Insolvency Administrations Under the Coronavirus Lockdown – Thomas More Chambers

Posted April 24th, 2020 in administrators, chambers articles, company law, coronavirus, employment, insolvency, news by sally

‘Insolvency administrators often like to compare their salvage missions to the activity of fungi in recycling dying matter. Administrators, like fungi, earn a living by grappling with the products of decay, taking apart dying businesses and, where possible, identifying, reconstituting and revivifying the most promising bits.’

Full Story

Thomas More Chambers, 20th April 2020

Source: www.thomasmore.co.uk

Sign of the times: Debenhams Retail Ltd (in administration): Administrators and furlough arrangements – Exchange Chambers

Posted April 24th, 2020 in administrators, chambers articles, company law, coronavirus, employment, insolvency, news by sally

‘It is a sign of the times that there have been two urgent applications to the High Court of Justice for directions by administrators in respect of furlough arrangements in the course of one week. Each application has concerned high profile companies employing vast numbers of people. The financial implications of the issues before the court in each case are significant for both employees and administrators.’

Full Story

Exchange Chambers, 22nd April 2020

Source: www.exchangechambers.co.uk

Seeking Settlement as a Victim of Domestic Violence During the COVID-19 Pandemic- One Pump Court

Posted April 24th, 2020 in chambers articles, coronavirus, domestic violence, emergency powers, freedom of movement, immigration, news by sally

‘Covid-19 has created various worries and struggles for society. It has however been a particularly difficult time for victims of domestic violence.’

Full Story

One Pump Court, 21st April 2020

Source: onepumpcourt.co.uk

Solicitor’s Duty When Redacting Documents: Infederation Ltd v Google LLC [2020] EWHC 657 (Ch) – Blackstone Chambers

Posted April 24th, 2020 in chambers articles, confidentiality, disclosure, documents, news, solicitors by sally

‘It is often the case that documents that must be disclosed in proceedings contain confidential information. Clients are understandably concerned to take all appropriate steps to safeguard the confidentiality of disclosed documents. This is particularly the case where the purpose of the proceedings is the protection of confidential information, such as the enforcement of a non-compete restrictive covenant or duty of confidence. The courts have recognised a number of legitimate techniques to limit the disclosure of confidential information in such circumstances. These include confidentiality rings and the redaction of documents. Both were considered in the recent case of Infederation v Google in which the High Court gave important guidance to solicitors in their approach to redaction of documents on grounds of confidentiality.’

Full Story

Blackstone Chambers, 21st April 2020

Source: www.employeecompetition.com