Lord Chancellors should be judges, APIL argues – Legal Futures

‘Lord Chancellors should be recruited from the judiciary and no longer combine the role with that of justice secretary, the Association of Personal Injury Lawyers (APIL) has argued.’

Full story

Legal Futures, 29th August 2014

Source: www.legalfutures.co.uk

Richmond Pharmacology Ltd v Chester Overseas Ltd and others – WLR Daily

Richmond Pharmacology Ltd v Chester Overseas Ltd and others [2014] EWHC 2692 (Ch); [2014] WLR (D) 365

‘The test of whether there was a breach of the duty under section 175 of the Companies Act 2006 was objective, and did not depend on whether the director was aware that what he was doing was a breach of his duty. It was no defence to a claim for breach of this duty that the director had acted in good faith. Nor was it a defence that the director had acted reasonably, but wrongly, had thought that he had been entitled to do what he had done.’

WLR Daily, 1st August 2014

Source: www.iclr.co.uk

Lady Butler-Sloss stands down from child-abuse inquiry – The Guardian

‘Lady Butler-Sloss, the retired high court judge, has resigned as chair of the panel that is due to examine the extent to which public institutions failed to investigate allegations of child abuse.

Full story

The Guardian, 14th July 2014

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Questions over choice of Butler-Sloss as head of child abuse allegations inquiry – The Guardian

Posted July 9th, 2014 in child abuse, conflict of interest, inquiries, judges, news, sexual offences by sally

‘The government faced questions on Tuesday over the appointment of a member of the House of Lords as the chair of a public inquiry into “serious failings by public bodies and important institutions” in their handling of allegations of child abuse.’

Full story

The Guardian, 8th July 2014

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

“Virtually impossible” for solicitors to claim success fees in cases involving children – Litigation Futures

‘The Civil Procedure Rule Committee is to investigate claims that the Jackson reforms have made it “virtually impossible” for solicitors to claim success fees in cases involving children, it has emerged.’

Full story

Litigation Futures, 11th June 2014

Source: www.litigationfutures.com

FCA review of insurance brokers’ conflict handling shows that “more proactive approach” is needed, says expert – OUT-LAW.com

‘The Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) found that some of the largest brokers that serve small businesses did not have proper processes in place to manage the “inherent conflicts” that arise as part of their work.’

Full story

OUT-LAW.com, 29th May 2014

Source: www.out-law.com

Appeal court sets aside £186k professional negligence claim – Law Society’s Gazette

‘A Devon firm has won an appeal against a £186,000 damages award for professional negligence following a conveyancing row with a former client.’

Full story

Law Society’s Gazette, 20th May 2014

Source: www.lawgazette.co.uk

The dependable witness – New Law Journal

‘Martin Burns provides five important factors to consider when instructing an expert witness (or acting as one).’

Full story

New Law Journal, 28th February 2014

Source: www.newlawjournal.co.uk

Isis Investments Ltd v Oscatello Investments Ltd and others – WLR Daily

Posted November 29th, 2013 in appeals, banking, conflict of interest, EC law, jurisdiction, law reports by sally

Isis Investments Ltd v Oscatello Investments Ltd and others [2013] EWCA Civ 1493; [2013] WLR (D) 459

“Articles 10(2)(e) and 32 of Council Directive 2001/24/EC required a careful construction of the phrases ‘lawsuits pending’ and ‘pending lawsuit’ if one were to rely on the provisions in order to permit a departure from the general principle contained within article 10(1) that a credit institution should be wound up in accordance with the laws of its home member state.”

WLR Daily, 27th November 2013

Source: www.iclr.co.uk

Probe into price comparison website deals – OUT-LAW.com

Posted November 27th, 2013 in conflict of interest, consumer protection, insurance, internet, news by tracey

‘Price comparison websites and insurers in the motor, travel and home insurance markets are the subject of a regulatory probe by the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) amidst concerns that consumers are being misled when buying cover through those sites.26 Nov 2013.’

Full story

OUT-LAW.com, 26th November 2013

Source: www.out-law.com

FCA outlines plans to tighten regulation in asset management industry – OUT-LAW.com

Posted November 1st, 2013 in conflict of interest, consultations, financial regulation, news, speeches by sally

“The Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) is to conduct a review into the asset management industry in an effort to understand whether payment arrangements between asset managers and brokers give rise to conflicts of interest in the market.”

Full story

OUT-LAW.com, 31st October 2013

Source: www.out-law.com

Complaints against doctors double since 2007 – Daily Telegraph

“Complaints against doctors have more than doubled in six years amid increasing demand on NHS services and rising expectations from patients, according to a new report.”

Full story

Daily Telegraph, 16th October 2013

Source: www.telegraph.co.uk

Deloitte fined £14m for conflict of interest over MG Rover – The Guardian

Posted September 9th, 2013 in accountants, conflict of interest, fines, news by tracey

“Deloitte, one of the UK’s largest accountancy firms, has been fined a record-breaking £14m for a conflict of interest that occurred when it advised MG Rover Group and the Phoenix Four directors who bought the British carmaker before it collapsed.”

Full story

The Guardian, 9th September 2013

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Preacher faces scrutiny from Charities Commission over church’s finances – The Guardian

Posted August 16th, 2013 in charities, conflict of interest, news by tracey

“Thousands hear sermons by Nigerian bishop David Oyedepo as UK Winners’ branch receives £16m in tithes from followers.

But the booming British operation of Oyedepo, who flies on private jets
and runs a 50,000-seat mega church in Lagos, is being looked at by the
Charity Commission.”

Full story

The Guardian, 15th August 2013

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Cut Price Justice – Garden Court Chambers Blog

“Anna Morris explains why the legal profession and the public must unite to oppose the government’s attack on legal aid.”

Full story

Garden Court Chambers Blog, 20th May 2013

Source: www.gclaw.wordpress.com

Revealed: George Osborne’s secret veto on fraud inquiries – The Independent

Posted April 24th, 2013 in banking, budgets, compensation, conflict of interest, fraud, inquiries, news, veto by sally

“George Osborne has a secret veto over large and potentially politically sensitive fraud investigations, The Independent has learnt.”

Full story

The Independent, 23rd April 2013

Source: www.independent.co.uk

Jackson ‘will fuel conflicts’ – Law Society’s Gazette

Posted November 15th, 2012 in barristers, conflict of interest, fees, news by sally

“The Jackson reforms will heighten potential conflicts of interest where barristers are dealing directly with the public, experts at the bar conference warned last week.”

Full story

Law Society’s Gazette, 15th November 2012

Source: www.lawgazette.co.uk

Watchdog Ofqual queries text book links to exam boards – BBC News

Posted November 8th, 2012 in conflict of interest, education, examinations, news, publishing by sally

“The publication or endorsement of text books by exam boards has been questioned by England’s exams watchdog Ofqual.”

Full story

BBC News, 7th November 2012

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Judge in late abortion case linked to conservative Christian charity – The Guardian

Posted September 24th, 2012 in abortion, Christianity, conflict of interest, judges, news, sentencing by sally

“A judge who criticised UK abortion policies while sentencing a woman to eight years in prison for performing her own abortion at a late stage in her pregnancy is one of at least five members of the judiciary with links to a Christian charity which has campaigned for more conservative abortion laws.”

Full story

The Guardian, 21st September 2012

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Sarah Catt, abortion and the legal rights of pregnant women – The Guardian

Posted September 24th, 2012 in abortion, conflict of interest, judges, news, pregnancy, sentencing by sally

“Before prosecuting and jailing women for abortion, we should ask whether criminalisation is ever appropriate.”

Full story

The Guardian, 21st September 2012

Source: www.guardian.co.uk