“Negligent” firm avoids wasted costs order after failing to pass on offer – Litigation Futures

Posted October 1st, 2020 in costs, law firms, negligence, news, wasted costs orders by sally

‘The High Court has upheld a decision not to order wasted costs against a law firm that failed to pass on a “drop hands” settlement offer to a client who was ultimately found to be fundamentally dishonest.’

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Litigation Futures, 30th September 2020

Source: www.litigationfutures.com

Solicitor who raided client’s estate to pay debts is struck off – Legal Futures

‘A solicitor who used £100,000 from a client’s estate to pay debts to HM Revenue & Customs and an indemnity insurer before closing his firm has been struck off.’

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Legal Futures, 16th September 2020

Source: www.legalfutures.co.uk

High Court rejects challenge to foreign in-house lawyers’ privilege – Legal Futures

Posted September 14th, 2020 in foreign jurisdictions, law firms, legal profession, legal services, news, privilege by tracey

‘Legal advice privilege extends to communications with foreign lawyers working in-house even if they are not recognised or regulated as “professional lawyers”, the High Court has ruled.’

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Legal Futures, 14th September 2020

Source: www.legalfutures.co.uk

Defendant’s “potential exposure” not relevant to security for costs – Litigation Futures

Posted September 2nd, 2020 in costs, fiduciary duty, indemnities, insurance, law firms, news by tracey

‘A defendant’s potential exposure to paying the premium for after-the-event (ATE) insurance necessary to meet its demand for security for costs was “not relevant” to the question of security, the High Court has ruled.’

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Litigation Futures, 1st September 2020

Source: www.litigationfutures.com

Judge wrong to impose costs on litigation friend – Litigation Futures

Posted August 28th, 2020 in children, costs, law firms, litigation friends, news, tax avoidance by sally

‘A High Court judge was wrong to order a litigation friend, acting for children, to pay costs after unsuccessfully applying to challenge the settlement of a trust dispute, appeal judges have ruled.’

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Litigation Futures, 26th August 2020

Source: www.litigationfutures.com

Tribunal upholds award to age discrimination job interview solicitor – Law Society’s Gazette

‘The employment tribunal has declined to change its compensation award made to a solicitor who claimed age discrimination when he was turned down for a job.’

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Law Society's Gazette, 27th August 2020

Source: www.lawgazette.co.uk

Judge lashes out at “shameful drivel” produced in RTA claims – Litigation Futures

‘A deputy district judge lambasted law firms’ approach to low-value road traffic claims, describing them as “drivel” and saying “they are mostly prepared in a way which makes me ashamed of our profession”.’

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Litigation Futures, 28th August 2020

Source: www.litigationfutures.com

Judge rejects challenges to £13k award for age discrimination solicitor – Legal Futures

Posted August 27th, 2020 in age discrimination, damages, employment tribunals, law firms, news, solicitors by sally

‘An employment judge has refused applications from both sides to reconsider his decision to award an experienced property solicitor damages of £13,200 for age discrimination by a law firm.’

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Legal Futures, 27th August 2020

Source: www.legalfutures.co.uk

Students lodge formal complaint against BPP alleging City favouritism – Law Society’s Gazette

‘A multifaceted complaint against legal educator BPP from students on its postgraduate solicitor programmes was formally submitted today.’

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Law Society's Gazette, 11th August 2020

Source: www.lawgazette.co.uk

City giant self-reports to SRA after trial streamed live on Zoom – Law Society’s Gazette

‘A City firm which disobeyed a court order and allowed a libel trial to be live streamed to clients abroad has reported itself to the regulator.’

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Law Society's Gazette, 7th August 2020

Source: www.lawgazette.co.uk

Top judge slates firm over trial live-stream breach – Legal Futures

‘The president of the Queen’s Bench Division has strongly criticised lawyers in the London office of US firm McDermott Will & Emery (MWE) after they allowed a trial to be live-streamed to observers outside the UK without the court’s permission.’

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Legal Futures, 7th August 2020

Source: www.legalfutures.co.uk

Partner fired for ‘topping up’ fees overturns tribunal ruling – Legal Futures

‘The Employment Appeal Tribunal has overturned a ruling that a law firm was entitled to fire a partner who was accused of “topping up” legal aid fees with cash from a client’s father.’

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Legal Futures, 7th August 2020

Source: www.legalfutures.co.uk

MPs fear firms, chambers and law centres collapsing – Legal Futures

‘MPs have expressed concern that law firms, chambers and law centres may collapse because of the impact of Covid-19.’

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The Guardian, 3rd August 2020

Source: www.legalfutures.co.uk

Lawyers must be able to report “mini-bullying moments” – Legal Futures

‘Lawyers must be able to report “mini-bullying moments” without fear that things will “go nuclear”, the global director of inclusion at Clifford Chance has said.’

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Legal Futures, 31st July 2020

Source: www.legalfutures.co.uk

Number of complaints received by law firms on the rise – Legal Futures

‘There has been a 9% increase in the number of complaints to law firms last year, but they continue to resolve eight out of 10 themselves, according to official statistics.’

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Legal Futures, 31st July 2020

Source: www.legalfutures.co.uk

Whistleblowers’ lawyers “fear retaliation” over NDAs – Legal Futures

‘Lawyers acting for whistleblowers have told MPs and peers that they can feel intimidated to raise concerns over non-disclosure agreements (NDAs) because of the threat of retaliation.’

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Legal Futures, 23rd July 2020

Source: www.legalfutures.co.uk

High Court upholds lawyer’s entitlement to costs on DBA termination – Litigation Futures

Posted July 13th, 2020 in costs, damages, fees, law firms, news, solicitors by sally

‘A damages-based agreement (DBA) was not unenforceable because it obliged the client to pay incurred costs and expenses when she exercised her contractual right of termination, the High Court has ruled.’

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Litigation Futures, 13th July 2020

Source: www.litigationfutures.com

Immigration solicitors permanently banned from unregulated firms – Legal Futures

‘Solicitors handling immigration work can only do so from organisations overseen by a legal regulator or the Office of the Immigration Services Commissioner (OISC), the Solicitors Regulation Authority has decided.’

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Legal Futures, 13th July 2020

Source: www.legalfutures.co.uk

Negligence claim over divorce assets ruled to be time-barred – Law Society’s Gazette

Posted July 10th, 2020 in appeals, damages, divorce, law firms, negligence, news, time limits by sally

‘The Court of Appeal has upheld a law firm’s case that a £125,000 professional negligence claim against a firm for its handling of a divorce was issued too late. In Holt v Holley & Steer Solicitors (a firm), judges held that any alleged cause of action happened in the lead-up to divorce proceedings being finalised, and this was the starting point for the six-year limitation period.’

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Law Society's Gazette, 8th July 2020

Source: www.lawgazette.co.uk

PI lawyers and insurers expect dip in RTA claims – Litigation Futures

‘Personal injury (PI) law firms and insurers expect a dip in workload over the next six months as a result of Covid-19 but expect the market to have recovered by the end of 2021, a survey has suggested.’

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Litigation Futures, 10th July 2020

Source: www.litigationfutures.com