Seven out of ten (69{0a6a65c996ed4169444354e707b897cdb00dbefc1d0429e8febb9bf11027ba53}) commercial litigation partners have run up court costs above the agreed budget level according to a recent survey. Only one in ten (11{0a6a65c996ed4169444354e707b897cdb00dbefc1d0429e8febb9bf11027ba53}), however, has made an application to the court to revise the costs…read more
£1.6m counterclaim thrown out due to email error
A mistake in an email address has led to a £1.6m counterclaim being thrown out by the High Court. The case highlights the importance of meeting Court-imposed deadlines when making, or defending, claims for damages. Martin Holton was a defendant…read more
Indemnity insurer liable for disbursement loans
A professional indemnity (PI) insurer has been ordered to reimburse loans made to clients of a failed law firm by the Court of Appeal. The case could have implications for the PI insurance market as the insurer in the case…read more
Solicitors must adhere to court deadlines to defend negligence claims
A solicitor who failed to comply with a judge’s order to provide documents to the court has been refused permission to appeal. The case highlights the importance of professionals meeting all court deadlines if they are to successfully defend themselves….read more
Fewer firms fail to renew professional indemnity insurance
The number of law firms failing to renew their professional indemnity insurance (PII) has fallen by nearly 70{0a6a65c996ed4169444354e707b897cdb00dbefc1d0429e8febb9bf11027ba53} The Solicitors Regulation Authority Board said that 49 firms entered the ‘cessation period’ after failing to renew their PII as at 6…read more
Negligence claims against solicitors triple in a year
High Court cases against solicitors for professional negligence almost tripled in a year according to City law firm RPC. Many of the claims involve property and conveyancing disputes with sub-prime mortgage lenders resulting from the 2008 financial crisis. RPC says…read more
More aggro over aggregation as day in court is postponed
A dispute over the amount a solicitor’s professional indemnity insurer must pay out for a series of similar claims lies at the heart of long awaited court case. Now solicitors and their insurers will have to wait a little longer…read more
Legal Ombudsman to establish online complaints portal
A new online complaints portal, being launched by the Legal Ombudsman, will make it easier for lawyers to manage complaints in one place. Consumers will be encouraged to manage their complaints through the portal enabling them easily to keep track…read more
London firm defends £1.9m negligence claim
A London law firm has successfully defended a negligence claim from a client by arguing that its retainer was limited to legal rather than commercial issues. The case involved the sale of a commercial property to a developer where the…read more
Lawyers to be banned from offering incentives to personal injury claimants
Legislation has been introduced to ban lawyers from offering incentives to personal injury claimants Gifts of iPads and upfront ‘welcome’ payments have been made by some law firms in exchange for pursuing personal injury claims with their firm. The move…read more