Remote Hearings and Witness Evidence – Pump Court Chambers

Posted May 12th, 2020 in chambers articles, evidence, news, remote hearings, witnesses by sally

‘Remote hearings come with particular difficulties. One obvious difficulty is that the parties cannot see each other as well as they might in the courtroom. But how much of a problem is this?’

Full Story

Pump Court Chambers, 29th April 2020

Source: www.pumpcourtchambers.com

Limitation in historic sex abuse claims: recent decisions on the exercise of section 33 of the Limitation Act 1980 – 12 King’s Bench Walk

Posted May 11th, 2020 in chambers articles, delay, limitations, news, sexual offences by sally

‘A series of judgments have already been handed down this year that deal with limitation in historic sex abuse cases. Each addresses whether it is equitable to allow the claim to proceed by disapplying the long-expired limitation period, by exercising the discretion under section 33 of the Limitation Act 1980.’

Full Story

12 King's Bench Walk, 1st May 2020

Source: www.12kbw.co.uk

Scott v LGBT Foundation Ltd: When Dealing with Personal Information Falls Outside the Data Protection Regime – The 36 Group

‘In Scott v LGBT Foundation Ltd [2020] EWHC 483 (QB) the High Court held that “a verbal disclosure does not constitute the processing of personal data” under the Data Protection Act 1998 (“DPA 1998”).’

Full Story

The 36 Group, 5th May 2020

Source: 36group.co.uk

Good faith: Is English law swimming against the international tide? – The 36 Group

Posted May 11th, 2020 in chambers articles, contracts, news by sally

‘The general obligation of good faith in the performance of contractual obligations is widely recognised and accepted overseas both in civil law jurisdictions and also now in most common law jurisdictions.’

Full Story

The 36 Group, 1st May 2020

Source: 36group.co.uk

Have you just unreasonably refused to mediate? – 33 Bedford Row

Posted May 11th, 2020 in chambers articles, dispute resolution, news by sally

‘If a party is a signatory to a pre-existing dispute clause, that will normally be binding upon them save for specific circumstances outside the scope of this article. Our present focus is where disputants are not bound to mediate, but one side proposes mediation.’

Full Story

33 Bedford Row, 30th April 2020

Source: www.33bedfordrow.co.uk

No vicarious liability for a ‘personal vendetta’: WM Morrisons Supermarkets plc (Appellant) v Various Claimants (Respondents) – [2020] UKSC 12 – 3PB

‘Morrisons, the Appellant by the time this case reached the Supreme Court, are, of course, a well-known national chain of supermarkets. The Respondents in this case were approximately 9,000 employees or former employees of Morrisons.’

Full Story

3PB, May 2020

Source: www.3pb.co.uk

Stay? Maybe Stayed? No Stay? – 4-5 Gray’s Inn Square

‘Without, hopefully, being too flippant, the above are, essentially, the questions that the Court of Appeal will be considering tomorrow in relation to Practice Direction 51Z, in Arkin v Marshall.’

Full Story

4-5 Gray's Inn Square, 29th April 2020

Source: www.4-5.co.uk

Child Protocol in Criminal Cases – Garden Court Chambers

‘The impact of COVID-19 and the guidance from Government to take all precautions to avoid unnecessary contact, has seen understandable and unprecedented changes to the justice system. The Lord Chief Justice has announced that, where possible, criminal hearings should take place remotely and no new jury trials can begin, causing all future trials to be postponed.’

Full Story

Garden Court Chambers, 5th May 2020

Source: www.gardencourtchambers.co.uk

Coronavirus Act 2020: Does it permit mandatory vaccinations? – Garden Court Chambers

‘There are multiple human rights and civil liberties implications both globally and domestically arising from the response to COVID-19 and the current crisis. Some of them are very real and concerning. Others are scaremongering and simply not true.’

Full Story

Garden Court Chambers, 1st May 2020

Source: www.gardencourtchambers.co.uk

Interactive remote ADR: the flexible route around the ongoing court logjam – Hardwicke Chambers

‘It’s a welcome development, recently announced in the Law Gazette, that ABI members and various claimant firms have already signed up to an ongoing protocol adding flexibility to the way claims are handled at this time. A similar agreement has been made between the Association of Personal Injury Lawyers and Forum of Insurance Lawyers.’

Full Story

Hardwicke Chambers, 29th April 2020

Source: hardwicke.co.uk

Homelessness Law and Practice: Coronavirus Update – 4-5 Gray’s Inn Square

Posted May 7th, 2020 in chambers articles, coronavirus, homelessness, news by sally

‘Though there is little firm evidence of the extent of the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic on the homeless population or the effectiveness of measures adopted by the government to mitigate that impact, it is clear that the crisis poses unique and urgent risks to this part of society. The Housing, Communities, and Local Government Committee has launched an inquiry into this issue which will meet for the first time next week, and it is more than likely that we will see more changes to this fast-developing area in the weeks and months to come.’

Full Story

4-5 Gray's Inn Square, 6th May 2020

Source: www.4-5.co.uk

Children in prison during the COVID-19 pandemic – practitioners guides – Garden Court Chambers

Posted May 7th, 2020 in chambers articles, children, coronavirus, detention, news by sally

‘Kate Aubrey-Johnson of the Garden Court Criminal Defence Team and Dr Laura Janes of The Howard League for Penal Reform, have prepared a practitioner’s guide on ending the detention of children during the COVID-19 lockdown period.’

Full Story

Garden Court Chambers, 1st May 2020

Source: www.gardencourtchambers.co.uk

Jurisdiction of the court as well as the adjudicator under scrutiny – Hardwicke Chambers

‘Waksman J was asked by a contractor, Flexidig, to enforce an adjudicator’s decision ordering payment against its employer, M&M. Flexidig had been appointed by M&M to carry out civil works associated with the installation of new Virgin Media underground infrastructure in Lough, Lincolnshire.’

Full Story

Hardwicke Chambers, 29th April 2020

Source: hardwicke.co.uk

Claims by clubs in the event of a cancelled season – Littleton Chambers

‘In this short piece, Andrew Nixon and Alex Harvey of Sheridans Sports Group, and David Reade QC and Nick Siddall QC of the Littleton Sports Group consider some of the potential claims which may arise from league seasons being cancelled, with a particular focus on the Premier League. The authors also look at how any losses may be assessed.’

Full Story

Littleton Chambers, 7th May 2020

Source: littletonchambers.com

Benefits of ADR (and risks of refusing) – Park Square Barristers

Posted May 7th, 2020 in chambers articles, dispute resolution, news by sally

‘Most litigators will have seen the standard directions order requiring parties to consider alternative dispute resolution as a means of resolving their case. Most will also appreciate the potential cost consequences of unreasonably refusing to engage in ADR. Despite this, it is not uncommon for one party to refuse to engage in any form of ADR due to the perception that it has a strong case.’

Full Story

Park Square Barristers, 6th May 2020

Source: www.parksquarebarristers.co.uk

FINDINGS OF FACT………’Failure to protect’. – Becket Chambers

‘It is always good to return to basics and remind ourselves of the fundamental principle that ‘findings of fact’ must be based on evidence, and this can include inferences that can properly be drawn from the evidence’. A reminder that it is not on suspicion or simply speculation. (RE A (Fact Finding: Disputed Findings) [2011] EWCA Civ 12 [2011] 1 FLR 1817.’

Full Story

Becket Chambers, 5th May 2020

Source: becket-chambers.co.uk

Enfranchisement Under the Leasehold Reform Act 1967: An overview and case law update – St Ives Chambers

Posted May 7th, 2020 in chambers articles, enfranchisement, leases, news by sally

‘This article is intended to provide a brief overview on the law of enfranchisement under the Leasehold Reform Act 1967 (‘LRA’), with an update on recent case law.’

Full Story

St Ives Chambers, 4th May 2020

Source: www.stiveschambers.co.uk

Unexplained Wealth Orders: The Weapon Against Dirty Money – Pump Court Chambers

Posted May 7th, 2020 in chambers articles, news, unexplained wealth orders by sally

‘Unexplained Wealth Orders (UWO’s) were introduced into law through section 1 of the Criminal Finances Act 2017 by inserting section 362A to I into Part 8 of the Proceeds of Crime Act 2002 (“POCA”) They require a person who is reasonably suspected of involvement in, or being connected with persons involved in serious crime, to explain the nature and extent of their interest in property and how that interest was obtained.[1] If the person cannot provide an adequate explanation or satisfactory evidence, the property becomes recoverable property, subject to the POCA 2002.’

Full Story

Pump Court Chambers, 28th April 2020

Source: www.pumpcourtchambers.com

Section 22 applications in light of the current crisis and the subsequent economic downturn – Drystone Chambers

Posted May 7th, 2020 in chambers articles, coronavirus, news, proceeds of crime by sally

‘The rise in applications under section 22 of the Proceeds of Crime Act have been clear over the last four years. It is now at a level where the Court of Appeal are hearing on average two matters a year and the case law has clearly established that the test of “just” under s.22 (4) is wide ranging.’

Full Story

Drystone Chambers, 28th April 2020

Source: drystone.com

Changes to Capital Gains Tax Reliefs When Spouses and Civil Partners Separate – Pump Court Chambers

‘Among all the other changes being made to people’s financial arrangements, firstly as a result of our anticipated Brexit, and then as a result of the Covid-19 pandemic, and their concomitant impact on economies, both macro and micro, share values, savings rates and property values, it’s easy to forget that significant changes have also been made to personal tax arrangements. For those in marriages or civil partnerships who are separating, or for those who have already separated and are going through divorce or dissolution proceedings and their associated financial remedy proceedings, that includes changes to Capital Gains Tax.’

Full Story

Pump Court Chamber, 27th April 2020

Source: www.pumpcourtchambers.com