Inheritance Tax Planning and Trusts – New Square Chambers

Posted December 3rd, 2013 in consultations, inheritance tax, news, trusts by sally

‘The Finance Act 2006 introduced significant changes to the Inheritance Tax (IHT) treatment of
trusts with effect from 22 March 2006. The purpose of this paper is to investigate estate planning
opportunities which are still available both (a) during the lifetime of an individual and (b) on death.’

Full story

New Square Chambers, 28th November 2013

Source: www.newsquarechambers.co.uk

Support for vulnerable women and taxpayers in court fees changes – Ministry of Justice

Posted December 3rd, 2013 in civil justice, consultations, courts, domestic violence, fees, injunctions, news by sally

‘People taking high value cases through civil courts in England and Wales will be expected to pay much more towards their running costs, Courts Minister Shailesh Vara has announced – while the fees for domestic violence injunctions will be scrapped.’

Full story

Ministry of Justice, 3rd December 2013

Source: www.gov.uk/government/organisations/ministry-of-justice

Draft Strategic Plan 2014-17 and Budget 2014-15 – The Bar Council

Posted November 28th, 2013 in barristers, budgets, consultations, press releases by tracey

‘The Bar Council is consulting on its draft Strategic Plan 2014-17, which sets out its proposed direction of travel for the next three years, setting clear aims and objectives. It builds on our last Strategic Plan which covered the period 2011-14.’

Full press release

The Bar Council, 27th November 2013

Source: www.barcouncil.org.uk

The latest challenge to the badger cull extension – UK Human Rights Blog

Posted November 28th, 2013 in animals, consultations, environmental health, judicial review, news by tracey

‘A new challenge was filed yesterday to the badger cull extension presently under way in the South West of England.’

Full story

UK Human Rights Blog, 27th November 2013

Source: www.ukhumanrightsblog.com

FCA consults on “fairer and more transparent” rules on use of client commissions by investment managers – OUT-LAW.com

Posted November 27th, 2013 in consultations, financial regulation, financial services ombudsman, news by tracey

‘Stricter rules on what costs of trade-related services can be passed on to clients of investment managers in the form of commission payments have been proposed by the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA).’

Full story

OUT-LAW.com, 27th November 2013

Source: www.out-law.com

Court battle over burial of Richard III adjourned – BBC News

‘The legal battle over where the remains of Richard III should be buried has been adjourned at the High Court. A judicial review will decide whether the procedure that led to his bones being excavated in Leicester and the decision to reinter them at the city’s cathedral, was conducted correctly.’

Full story

BBC News, 26th November 2013

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Proposals to amend the Conduct of Authorised Persons Rules: The Financial Services Perspective – Mnistry of Justice

Posted November 22nd, 2013 in claims management, codes of practice, consultations, financial regulation by tracey

‘The Claims Management Regulator proposes to make changes to the Conduct of Authorised Persons Rules that authorised claims management companies need to follow when submitting claims on behalf of consumers. The changes aim to address issues identifed by stakeholders that have reported poor behaviour such as claims management companies making speculative claims, failing to substantiate claims and not undertaking robust pre-complaint checks.’

Full press release

Ministry of Justice, 21st November 2013

Source: www.gov.uk/government/organisations/ministry-of-justice

Critics of legal aid cuts force Law Society vote – The Guardian

Posted November 20th, 2013 in budgets, consultations, Law Society, legal aid, news, solicitors by sally

“Solicitors opposed to government cuts in criminal legal aid have forced an emergency meeting of the Law Society to consider a no confidence motion in the profession’s leadership.”

Full story

The Guardian, 19th November 2013

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Consultation Paper “Transforming Legal Aid: Next Steps” Response on Behalf of the Honourable Society of the Inner Temple – The Inner Temple

“This response is made by the Honourable Society of the Inner Temple, one of the four Inns of Court, to which all barristers must belong.”

Full story (PDF)

The Inner Temple, November 2013

Source: www.innertemple.org.uk

Civil justice reform – another crack in the wall? – Halsbury’s Law Exchange

“The government’s response to the consultation paper on whiplash claims has recently been published. Within it, the government scraps the idea of raising the small claims limit for personal injury claims to £5,000; a measure which would capture most road traffic claims in the UK. It was seen by many as a pivotal brick in the Jackson campaign for proportionate costs, as it would fix the costs entitlement for most whiplash claims at fixed commencement costs for small claims. This would net a significant saving in adverse costs payments at a national level. So, why was a measure of seemingly vital importance discarded so summarily by the government?”

Full story

Halsbury’s Law Exchange, 15th November 2013

Source: www.halsburyslawexchange.co.uk

Regulation fees paid by claims management companies – Ministry of Justice

Posted November 15th, 2013 in claims management, consultations, fees by tracey

“This consultation invites views on the fees for applications for authorisation and annual fees for the regulation year 1 April 2014 to 31 March 2015 for claims management companies.”

Full press release

Ministry of Justice, 15th November 2013

Source: www.gov.uk/government/organisations/ministry-of-justice

Consultation on out of court disposals – Attorney General’s Office

Posted November 14th, 2013 in cautions, consultations, penalties, press releases by tracey

“This consultation paper outlines the existing out of court disposals (OOCDs) landscape and provides an opportunity for the public and practitioners to share their thoughts and experiences of OOCDs and their use, and consider how they might be reformed.”

Full press release

Attorney General’s Office, 14th November 2013

Source: www.gov.uk/ago

Pay a fee to skip the passport queue, under new Home Office plans – Daily Telegraph

Posted November 13th, 2013 in airports, consultations, fees, immigration, news, passports, pilot schemes by tracey

” British holidaymakers and business travellers who pay an extra fee to the Home Office will be allowed to skip the passport queue at the airport, under new plans outlined by the Home Office on Tuesday. A consultation paper said ministers were drawing up plans to extend ‘premium fast-track processing’ which is currently only available to some first and business class passengers at Heathrow. The proposal is one of a number of new ideas being floated to cover more of the immigration service’s costs by raising more revenue from passengers.”

Full story

Daily Telegraph, 12th November 2013

Source: www.telegraph.co.uk

City solicitors urge MoJ to withdraw “premature” consultation on defamation costs protection – Litigation Futures

Posted November 12th, 2013 in consultations, costs, defamation, news, privacy, solicitors by tracey

“City solicitors have urged the Ministry of Justice (MoJ) to withdraw its consultation on costs protection in defamation and privacy claims because it does not deal with the central issue of how eligibility for protection will be assessed.”

Full story

Litigation Futures, 7th November 2013

Source: www.litigationfutures.com

Targeted consultation on immigration and visa charging principles – Home Office

Posted November 12th, 2013 in consultations, fees, immigration, visas by tracey

“Targeted consultation on immigration and visa charging principles.”

Full consultation

Home Office, 12th November 2013

Source: www.gov.uk/home-office

Hospital closures and the rule of law – UK Human Rights Blog

Posted November 12th, 2013 in appeals, consultations, hospitals, news, rule of law by tracey

“Trust Special Administrator appointed to South London Healthcare NHS Trust v. LB Lewisham & Save Lewisham Hospital Campaign [2013] EWCA Civ 1409, 8 November 2013. It takes a bit of time to close a hospital or make major changes to it. This is because you must go through a complicated set of consultations with all those likely to be affected before action can be taken. Many, if not most, people say this is a good thing, and Parliament has embedded these duties of consultation in the law.”

Full story

UK Human Rights Blog, 8th November 2013

Source: www.ukhumanrightsblog.com

Consultation on new powers for the Forensic Science Regulator – Home Office

Posted November 8th, 2013 in codes of practice, consultations, forensic science by tracey

“A consultation on strengthening the powers of the Forensic Science Regulator has been launched today.”

Full consultation

Home Office, 8th November 2013

Source: www.gov.uk/home-office

Transforming Legal Aid: Next Steps – Consultation Response by Garden Court Chambers – Garden Court Chambers Blog

Posted November 7th, 2013 in barristers, consultations, criminal justice, fees, law firms, legal aid, news, solicitors by tracey

“Garden Court Chambers have formulated the below response to the Ministry of Justice consultation document ‘Transforming Legal Aid: Next Steps.’ The response reiterates Chambers’ strong opposition to the cuts to legal aid.”

Full story

Garden Court Chambers Blog, 1st November 2013

Source: www.gclaw.wordpress.com

Five disabled people win independent living fund appeal – The Guardian

“Five disabled people have won their court of appeal bid to overturn the government’s decision to abolish the independent living fund (ILF).”

Full story

The Guardian, 6th November 2013

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Lord Chief Justice: public should decide if Islamic veil should be allowed in court – Daily Telegraph

“The most senior judge in England and Wales says a public consultation will open on the ‘divisive’ subject soon.”

Full story

Daily Telegraph, 5th November 2013

Source: www.telegraph.co.uk