Motto and others v Trafigura Ltd and another – WLR Daily

Posted October 17th, 2011 in class actions, costs, fees, law reports, proportionality by sally

Motto and others v Trafigura Ltd and another [2011] EWCA Civ 1150; [2011] WLR (D) 292

“Where a costs judge determined that base costs were disproportionate for the purposes of CPR r 44.4(2)(a), to render them proportionate the judge was required to satisfy himself that the work on each item on the bill of costs was necessary, and, if necessary, that the cost of the item was reasonable. That was the approach to be taken generally, including in group litigation.”

WLR Daily, 12th October 2011

Source: www.iclr.co.uk

LSC Bar Bulletin – The Bar Council

Posted October 6th, 2011 in barristers, fees, legal services, news by sally

“On 3 August, the Bar Council posted a news item on its website updating the profession on the payment of advocates’ criminal graduated fees by the Legal Services Commission (LSC). That news item detailed efforts being made by the LSC to help resolve payment problems.”

Full story

The Bar Council, 6th October 2011

Source: www.barcouncil.org.uk

Chancery Lane launches action over committal fee reforms – Law Society’s Gazette

Posted October 6th, 2011 in courts, fees, guilty pleas, judicial review, legal aid, news by sally

“The Law Society has launched a legal challenge against the government over criminal legal aid fees.”

Full story

Law Society’s Gazette, 5th October 2011

Source: www.lawgazette.co.uk

Solicitors’ clients too often overcharged and left in dark, regulator says – The Guardian

Posted October 6th, 2011 in fees, news, solicitors, Solicitors Regulation Authority by sally

“Customers who go to law firms are too often left in ignorance about progress in their case then burdened with a huge bill at the end of proceeedings, according to the chief executive of the Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA).”

Full story

The Guardian, 6th October 2011

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Fixed legal fees- can they change the face of the legal profession? – The Lawyer

Posted October 5th, 2011 in fees, legal profession, news by sally

“The system of hourly billing by lawyers has come under scrutiny for some time, and whilst this might not be a new phenomenon, the increased move towards fixed fees and what this might mean for the sector, certainly is.”

Full story

The Lawyer, 4th October 2011

Source: www.thelawyer.com

Baroness Shackleton: legal watchdog warns lawyer fees market needs ‘urgent reform’ – Daily Telegraph

Posted October 3rd, 2011 in consumer protection, fees, legal profession, legal services, news by sally

“Exclusive: Lawyers are under pressure to adopt more ‘consumer friendly’ fee structures amid thousands of complaints from clients about inflated billing charges, the legal watchdog has warned. ”

Full story

Daily Telegraph, 1st October 2011

Source: www.telegraph.co.uk

Pay shake-up at criminal Bar could see QCs paid at same level as leading juniors – Legal Week

Posted September 29th, 2011 in barristers, fees, news, queen's counsel, remuneration by sally

“Criminal silks could see a significant drop in pay to match the rates of leading junior barristers, following recommendations made by the Legal Services Commission (LSC) last week.”

Full story

Legal Week, 28th September 2011

Source: www.legalweek.com

Barristers get green light to take ‘direct action’ – Law Society’s Gazette

Posted September 26th, 2011 in advocacy, barristers, competition, fees, news by sally

“The Bar Council and Criminal Bar Association believe it would be lawful for them to take direct action to protect members’ interests, it has emerged.”

Full story

Law Society’s Gazette, 26th September 2011

Source: www.lawgazette.co.uk

Phone hacking: Andy Coulson sues newspaper group – Daily Telegraph

Posted September 26th, 2011 in corruption, fees, interception, legal representation, media, news by sally

“Former News of the World editor and Downing Street aide Andy Coulson is suing a division of News International after it stopped paying his legal fees over the phone-hacking scandal.”

Full story

Daily Telegraph, 24th September 2011

Source: www.telegraph.co.uk

Milly Dowler’s family urges Cameron to rethink legal reforms – The Guardian

Posted September 23rd, 2011 in compensation, fees, legal aid, news, victims by tracey

“The family of Milly Dowler, the murdered teenager whose mobile phone was hacked by the News of the World, has written to the prime minister urging him to abandon legal reforms that will prevent victims suing for compensation.”

Full story

The Guardian, 22nd September 2011

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Related link: Dowler family letter to David Cameron

Advocacy accreditation will be implemented ‘circuit by circuit’ – Law Society’s Gazette

Posted September 23rd, 2011 in advocacy, fees, news, quality assurance by tracey

“The controversial Quality Assurance Scheme for Advocates (QASA) will be implemented in stages, but there will be no pilot, it has emerged.”

Full story

Law Society’s Gazette, 22nd September 2011

Source: www.lawgazette.co.uk

Super complaint filed over £1bn foreign currency fees – The Guardian

Posted September 21st, 2011 in complaints, consumer protection, fees, news, ombudsmen, unfair commercial practices by michael

“The Office of Fair Trading is to investigate whether UK holidaymakers are paying too much for foreign currency following a super-complaint by a consumer watchdog.”

Full story

The Guardian, September 21st 2011

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Experts in family cases – judicial guidance – Legal Aid Handbook Blog

Posted September 16th, 2011 in expert witnesses, family courts, fees, news by tracey

“As the countdown to 3rd October continues, concern is growing among practitioners not only about their own fees but about the position regarding experts. There are very real worries that experts will simply be unwilling to work for the new prescribed rates.”

Full story

Legal Aid Handbook Blog, 16th September 2011

Source: www: http://legalaidhandbook.com

Bid to exempt Trafigura-type claims from reform fails – Law Society’s Gazette

Posted September 15th, 2011 in bills, civil justice, fees, human rights, legal aid, news by tracey

“Conservative and Liberal Democrat MPs have rejected an amendment to legislation that would exempt claims brought by foreigners against UK multinationals from civil litigation reforms. The Public Bill Committee debated the amendment to the Legal Aid, Punishment of Offenders and Sentencing Bill, tabled by Labour MP Kate Green, yesterday.”

Full story

Law Society’s Gazette, 14th September 2011

Source: www.lawgazette.co.uk

Ken Clarke criticised over restricting ‘no win, no fee’ agreements – The Guardian

Posted September 12th, 2011 in charities, fees, legal aid, news by tracey

“A coalition of high-profile, international charities has condemned the government’s legal reforms for denying overseas victims of UK multinationals any chance of justice. In a letter to the Guardian, Amnesty International, Friends of the Earth, Oxfam and others warn that if the justice secretary, Ken Clarke, succeeds in restricting ‘no win, no fee’ agreements then Trafigura-style cases could never be brought again.”

Full story

The Guardian, 11th September 2011

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Government to ban referral fees in personal injury cases – Law Society’s Gazette

Posted September 9th, 2011 in fees, news, personal injuries by tracey

“The government has today announced that it will ban the payment of referral fees in personal injury cases. The Ministry of Justice said the current arrangements have led to high costs, encouraged a ‘compensation culture’ and led to the growth of an industry which pursues claimants for profit.”

Full story

Law Society’s Gazette, 9th September 2011

Source: www.lawgazette.co.uk

Bar Council Welcomes Move to Ban Referral Fees but Calls for Further Action – The Bar Council

Posted September 9th, 2011 in barristers, fees, personal injuries, press releases by tracey

“The Bar Council, which represents barristers in England and Wales, has welcomed Government moves to ban all referral fees in personal injury cases and has called on the Government to go further.”

Full press release

The Bar Council, 9th September 2011

Source: www.barcouncil.org.uk

 

Minister announces referral fee ban – Ministry of Justice

Posted September 9th, 2011 in fees, insurance, news, personal injuries by tracey

“Referral fees for personal injury cases will be banned to help tackle rising insurance costs, as part of the Government’s commitment to curb compensation culture.”

Full press release

Ministry of Justice, 9th September 2011

Source: www.justice.gov.uk

Injury claim referral fees to be banned – BBC News

Posted September 9th, 2011 in fees, insurance, news, personal injuries by tracey

“The government is to ban referral fees in personal injury claims in an attempt to curb the ‘compensation culture’. It says the current system in which personal injury details are sold on by insurance companies to lawyers has led to rising insurance costs.”

Full story

BBC News, 9th September 2011

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Bar Council publishes practising certificate fees research report – The Bar Council

Posted September 7th, 2011 in barristers, fees, news by sally

“A research report on Practising Certificate Fees, commissioned by the Bar Council and undertaken by IFF Research, has been published.”

Research Report: Practising Certificate Fees Research (PDF)

The Bar Council, 5th September 2011

Source: www.barcouncil.org.uk