Minister explains ‘no win, no fee’ reforms – Ministry of Justice

Posted June 28th, 2011 in compensation, costs, fees, news by sally

“Justice Minister Jonathan Djanogly has today been explaining reforms to tackle the problem of ‘no win, no fee’ legal schemes and fears of a compensation culture.”

Full story

Ministry of Justice, 28th June 2011

Source: www.justice.gov.uk

One nasty surprise in the legal aid bill escaped the headlines – The Guardian

Posted June 28th, 2011 in bills, fees, legal aid, legal representation, news, personal injuries by sally

“The bill all but removes sweeteners introduced in the 1990s when legal aid was abolished in most personal injury claims.”

Full story

The Guardian, 28th June 2011

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Tuition fees increases to be challenged in court – The Guardian

Posted June 27th, 2011 in fees, judicial review, news, universities by sally

“Two sixth formers have been granted permission to challenge the lawfulness of the government’s decision to let universities triple tuition fees.”

Full story

The Guardian, 24th June 2011

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Legal aid cuts will stop cases like Trafigura, UN official warns – The Guardian

Posted June 16th, 2011 in fees, human rights, legal aid, news, United Nations by sally

“A senior UN official has warned the government that cuts to legal aid and changes to lawyers’ fees will prevent claims, such as those in the Trafigura case, being brought against multinational businesses.”

Full story

The Guardian, 16th June 2011

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Exchange Chambers pioneers litigation funding – The Lawyer

Posted June 13th, 2011 in barristers, fees, news, third parties by tracey

“Northern set Exchange Chambers has become the first barristers’ chambers to move into the litigation funding market through a tie-up with legal insurance broker Maxima – with both clerks and barristers expected to encourage take-up among clients.”

Full story

The Lawyer, 13th June 2011

Source: www.thelawyer.com

Bar Council Stands by Calls to Ban Referral Fees and Urges LSB to Reconsider – The Bar Council

Posted June 2nd, 2011 in barristers, fees, Legal Services Board, news by sally

“The Bar Council, which represents barristers in England and Wales, has called for the Legal Services Board (LSB) to reconsider the outcome of its consultation on referral fees, which has concluded that there need not be an outright ban.”

Full story

The Bar Council, 1st June 2011

Source: www.barcouncil.org.uk

Loans firms decision due from OFT – BBC News

Posted June 1st, 2011 in complaints, fees, loans, news, unfair commercial practices by sally

“A decision over whether action should be taken against firms making unsolicited loan offers is due from the fair trading regulator later.”

Full story

BBC News, 1st June 2011

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Lawyers wrestle once again with vexed question of referral fees – The Guardian

Posted May 31st, 2011 in advertising, fees, Legal Services Board, news by sally

“Should lawyers be allowed to pay for work referred to them? The debate remains as heated today as it was in 2004 when the Law Society, under pressure from the Office of Fair Trading (OFT), first allowed solicitors to pay so-called referral fees.”

Full story

The Guardian, 31st May 2011

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Regulation of referral fees for legal services – Legal Services Board

Posted May 27th, 2011 in fees, legal profession, legal services, news by sally

“Launch of decision paper marks conclusion of review into the operation of referral fees in the legal services sector.”

Press release

Legal Services Board, 27th May 2011

Source: www.legalservicesboard.org.uk

Cost judges voiced fears over Jackson reforms, report reveals – Law Society’s Gazette

Posted May 26th, 2011 in costs, fees, news by sally

“Three costs judges from the Senior Court Costs Office broke ranks to object to radical reform of civil litigation, it has emerged.”

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Law Society’s Gazette, 26th May 2011

Source: www.lawgazette.co.uk

Campaigners against Jackson litigation reforms vow to fight on – The Guardian

Posted May 23rd, 2011 in costs, fees, legal aid, news by sally

“The fight against the proposed Jackson reforms to litigation costs will go on, the former Labour MP leading the Access to Justice Action Group (Ajag) has vowed.”

Full story

The Guardian, 23rd May 2011

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

BSB gives go ahead for barristers to sue solicitors over fees – Law Society’s Gazette

Posted May 6th, 2011 in barristers, contracts, fees, news, solicitors by sally

“The Bar Standards Board has given the green light for the introduction of standard contractual terms that will enable barristers to sue solicitors for unpaid fees.”

Full story

Law Society’s Gazette, 5th May 2011

Source: www.lawgazette.co.uk

MoJ could face judicial review challenge over civil cost reforms – Law Society’s Gazette

Posted May 3rd, 2011 in costs, fees, judicial review, Ministry of Justice, news by sally

“Charitable group the Public Law Project (PLP) has threatened to launch a legal challenge to the Ministry of Justice’s civil costs and funding reforms.”

Full story

Law Society’s Gazette, 28th April 2011

Source: www.lawgazette.co.uk

Beware of cut-price offers when you come to making your will – The Guardian

Posted April 18th, 2011 in consumer protection, drafting, fees, news, wills by sally

“We are told that writing a will is vital to secure the future of our loved ones. But many who set out with all the best of intentions, find that what should be a simple act is frustrated by ‘glaring errors’, pressure-selling, and over-inflated fees, according to the Law Society.”

Full story

The Guardian, 17th April 2011

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Lawyers claim £645 million family breakdown legal aid bill – Daily Telegraph

Posted April 18th, 2011 in divorce, fees, legal aid, legal profession, news by sally

“Legal aid lawyers are making £645 million from taxpayers over family breakdowns each year – £28 for every household in England and Wales.”

Full story

Daily Telegraph, 17th April 2011

Source: www.telegraph.co.uk

Volume disputes set for huge upheaval as MoJ backs Jackson on civil litigation reform – Legal Week

Posted April 7th, 2011 in costs, fees, news by sally

“Success fees look set to be ushered in for complex commercial cases, ironically just as the Government unveiled reforms expected to severely restrict their widespread use in volume personal injury claims.”

Full story

Legal Week, 7th April 2011

Source: www.legalweek.com

Ing Bank NV v Ros Roca SA – WLR Daily

Posted April 5th, 2011 in appeals, banking, estoppel, fees, law reports by sally

Ing Bank NV v Ros Roca SA [2011] EWCA Civ 353; [2011] WLR (D) 122

“A shared assumption on the facts surrounding a disputed fee agreement between a company and a bank acting as financial adviser, which was not reflected in the agreement, that the fees would not be calculated with reference to a particular ratio mentioned in the agreement, was enough to found an estoppel by convention so as to prevent the bank claiming a fee based on the disputed ratio.”

WLR Daily, 31st March 2011

Source: www.lawreports.co.uk

Please note once a case has been fully reported in one of the ICLR series the corresponding WLR Daily summary is removed.

European Commission v Italian Republic – WLR Daily

Posted April 4th, 2011 in EC law, fees, freedom of movement, Italy, law reports, legal profession by sally

European Commission v Italian Republic (Case C-565/08); [2011] WLR (D) 118

“Mandatory national provisions obliging lawyers to comply with maximum tariffs, in all cases where there was no conditional fee agreement or no special agreement between lawyer and client, were not contrary to articles 43EC and 49EC of the EC Treaty.”

WLR Daily, 29th March 2011

Source: www.iclr.co.uk

Please note once a case has been fully reported in one of the ICLR series the corresponding WLR Daily summary is removed.

Clarke announces major overhaul of civil justice – Ministry of Justice

Posted March 31st, 2011 in consultations, costs, courts, fees, press releases, small claims by sally

“The first major overhaul of the civil justice system in 15 years and reform of controversial ‘no win no fee’ deals were announced by Justice Secretary Kenneth Clarke today.”

Full press release

Ministry of Justice, 29th March 2011

Source: www.justice.gov.uk

Clarke stamping out compensation culture fears – Ministry of Justice

Posted March 31st, 2011 in arbitration, costs, courts, fees, press releases, small claims by sally

“Fears that a damaging compensation culture and an unwieldy justice system is costing businesses millions of pounds and deterring deserving individuals from using the justice system are to be tackled under plans announced today.”

Full press release

Ministry of Justice, 29th March 2011

Source: www.justice.gov.uk