Category: solicitors

Mastercigars Direct Ltd v Withers LLP – WLR Daily

Posted November 27th, 2007 in costs, law reports, solicitors by sally

Mastercigars Direct Ltd v Withers LLP [2007] EWHC 2733 (Ch) 

“A solicitors’ costs estimate was relevant on a detailed assessment of costs as a useful yardstick, by which the reasonableness of costs could be measured, and on the issue of reliance by a client on that estimate. It was not correct that unless a client was notified of the further sums payable, preferably before they were incurred, the solicitor would be unable to recover costs in excess of the estimated amount.”

WLR Daily, 26th November 2007

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.

Lambeth London Borough Council v Onayomake – Times Law Reports

Posted November 2nd, 2007 in civil procedure rules, landlord & tenant, law reports, negligence, solicitors by sally

Disproportionate exercise of judicial power

Lambeth London Borough Council v Onayomake

Court of Appeal

“Where a counterclaim had been made on substantial grounds in a possession action, it was a disproportionate exercise of judicial power to strike out a defence and counterclaim when the defendant’s legal representative had failed to file a check list on time.”

The Times, 2nd November 2007

Source: www.timesonline.co.uk

Please note the Times Law Reports are only available free on Times Online for 21 days from the date of publication

In the line of fire – Law Society’s Gazette

Posted November 2nd, 2007 in armed forces, news, personal injuries, solicitors by sally

“Solicitors working in the field of military personal injury claims believe the system needs to do more than help those injured during the course of military operations.”

Full story

Law Society’s Gazette, 1st November 2007

Source: www.lawgazette.co.uk

Retired solicitor, 89, goes back to court to help a friend – and wins – The Times

Posted October 29th, 2007 in criminal injuries compensation, solicitors by sally

“When Vivien Symons retired 25 years ago after a lifetime working as a solicitor, she thought she had done with the law. But at the age of 89 she has returned to court to win one last case.”

Full story

The Times, 27th October 2007

Source: www.timesonline.co.uk

Southwark London Borough Council v Onayomake – WLR Daily

Posted October 23rd, 2007 in civil procedure rules, landlord & tenant, law reports, negligence, solicitors by sally

Southwark London Borough Council v Onayomake

“It was a disproportionate exercise of power to strike out a defence and counterclaim based on substantial grounds in a possession action merely because the defendant’s legal representative had failed to file a check list and had been late for the court management hearing to explain the failure.”

WLR Daily, 22nd October 2007

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.

Black and Muslim lawyers plan breakaway regulator – The Times

Posted October 16th, 2007 in minorities, news, race discrimination, solicitors by sally

“Black and Muslim solicitors have accused Britain’s legal watchdog of racial discrimination and want to break away to establish their own watchdog body.”

Full story

The Times, 16th October 2007

Source: www.timesonline.co.uk

Bill to regulate solicitors ‘risks another miners’ compensation fiasco’ – The Times

Posted October 15th, 2007 in consumer protection, legal services, news, solicitors, trade unions by sally

“Plans for a shake-up of the legal profession, to be debated by MPs today, could lead to another fiasco like the miners’ compensation scheme, because trade unions would be exempt from consumer safeguards, Conservative MPs say.”

Full story

The Times, 15th October 2007

Source: www.timesonline.co.uk

Solicitors make millions from sick miners’ claims – The Guardian

Posted October 12th, 2007 in industrial injuries, miners, news, solicitors by sally

“Beresfords, a tiny firm of solicitors in Doncaster, has received £123m from the taxpayer by winning compensation claims on behalf of coal miners for work-related diseases, new government figures show.”

Full story

The Guardian, 12th October 2007

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Lasting Powers of Attorney: Practice Note – Law Society

Posted October 2nd, 2007 in mental health, powers of attorney, solicitors by sally

“A Law Society practice note intended to assist solicitors in advising clients who wish to draw up a Lasting Power of Attorney (LPA), as well as solicitors who are acting as an attorney under an LPA, also covers the ongoing arrangements for Enduring Powers of Attorney.”

Practice Note (pdf)

Law Society, 24th September 2007

Source: www.lawsociety.org.uk

Reforms spell ‘disaster’ – Law Society’s Gazette

Posted September 28th, 2007 in legal aid, news, solicitors by sally

“Proposed reforms to criminal defence legal aid contracts risk ‘pushing the defence service towards disaster’ and should be resisted ‘to the end’, Roger Peach, the president of the Criminal Defence Solicitors’ Union has warned.”

Full story

Law Society’s Gazette, 27th September 2007

Source: www.lawgazette.co.uk

Change to powers of attorney keep solicitors busy – The Guardian

Posted September 24th, 2007 in news, powers of attorney, solicitors by sally

“Solicitors will be working flat out this week to draw up powers of attorney for sick or elderly people before a more complex replacement costing up to 10 times as much comes into force next Monday.”

Full story

The Guardian, 24th September 2007

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Rude, loud and rowdy in the court – and that’s the lawyers – The Times

Posted September 20th, 2007 in news, professional conduct, solicitors by sally

“A justices’ clerk has attacked the swearing, raucousness, inappropriate dress and rudeness of those appearing before him in his court every day – but not in the dock.”

Full story

The Times, 20th September 2007

Source: www.timesonline.co.uk

In-house lawyers disappointed with dawn raids decision – The Times

Posted September 18th, 2007 in EC law, news, privilege, solicitors by sally

“The confidential protection enjoyed by lawyers over their communications does not extend to in-house lawyers, the European Court of First Instance ruled yesterday.”

Full story

The Times, 17th September 2007

Source: www.timesonline.co.uk

Bar Council delays new fee contract scheme – The Lawyer

Posted September 4th, 2007 in barristers, contracts, fees, news, solicitors by sally

“The new fee contract between barristers and solicitors, which was due to be introduced on 1 October, is being delayed by a year.”

Full story

The Lawyer, 3rd September 2007

Source: www.thelawyer.com

July 21 lawyer faces investigation over bribery claims – The Guardian

Posted August 31st, 2007 in corruption, news, solicitors by sally

“Scotland Yard was today investigating claims that a solicitor who represented some of the July 21 bombers tried to bribe a co-defendant.”

Full story

The Guardian, 30th August 2007

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

David Truex (a Firm) v Kitchin – Times Law Reports

Posted August 29th, 2007 in law reports, legal aid, solicitors by sally

Solicitor’s legal aid duty

David Truex (a Firm) v Kitchin

Court of Appeal

“A solicitor should not take instructions and incur costs gathering information relating to contemplated proceedings and only when that information suggested that the client was eligible for public funding advise that a different firm could become involved.”

The Times, 29th August 2007

Source: www.timesonline.co.uk

Please note the Times Law Reports are only available free on Times Online for 21 days from the date of publication.

Veitch and Another v Avery – Times Law Reports

Posted August 29th, 2007 in law reports, negligence, solicitors by sally

Business doomed to failure

Veitch and Another v Avery

Court of Appeal

“Any loss caused by a solicitor’s negligence in wrongly advising his client that he was in default under a loan agreement with his bank was to be assessed on the date of the breach of duty. A claimant client who had no chance, on the facts, of trading himself out of his difficulties even had the solicitor not behaved negligently, was not entitled to more than nominal damages against the solicitor.”

The Times, 29th August 2007

Source: www.timesonline.co.uk  

Please note the Times Law Reports are only available free on Times Online for 21 days from the date of publication.

Why are lawyers still low in the City’s pecking order? – The Times

Posted August 28th, 2007 in law firms, solicitors, special report by sally

“Forced to retire at the top of their game in their mid-50s, why are more of London’s top lawyers not snapped up by big companies?”

Full story

The Times, 24th August 2007

Source: www.timesonline.co.uk

Top City lawyers taking home more than £2m – The Guardian

Posted August 23rd, 2007 in law firms, news, remuneration, solicitors by sally

“Some lawyers at top City firms earned more than £2m each last year as they cashed in on a huge surge in demand for legal services to support mergers, acquisitions and other corporate deals.”

Full story

The Guardian, 23rd August 2007

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Down with ‘Tesco law’ – a call to arms – The Times

Posted August 20th, 2007 in legal services, news, solicitors by sally

“Plans to deregulate the legal market may threaten the existence of small practitioners but they can compete on service, says one High Street lawyer.”

Full story

The Times, 20th August 2007

Source: www.timesonline.co.uk