All articles by Catherine Baksi – Page 70
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News
Expert witnesses lose 400-year-old immunity
Expert witnesses have lost their immunity from being sued over matters arising in the course of proceedings, following a landmark ruling today. By a majority of five to two, the Supreme Court removed the 400-year-old protection that gave expert witnesses immunity from suit for breach of duty whether in contract ...
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‘Recession over for law firms’ – exclusive survey
The recession has finally run its course, according to the results of a survey conducted in association with the Gazette. Six out of ten firms expect revenues to increase over the next 12 months, while only 3.6% predict a fall. ...
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News
New guidelines proposed for sentencing drug offenders
The Sentencing Council has today launched a consultation on proposals to introduce new guidelines for judges and magistrates sentencing drug offenders. The plans will mean that for the first time in the Crown court, sentences will be based on the court’s assessment of the defendant’s role ...
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News
Protest marchers call the tune on legal aid
Tomorrow sees the Trades Union Congress ‘March for the Alternative’ rally, taking place in central London. It is predicted that tens of thousands will turn up to protest against the planned public sector spending cuts, in what is expected to be the largest TUC event ...
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High Court overturns Solicitors Disciplinary Tribunal fines
The High Court last week criticised the Solicitors Disciplinary Tribunal (SDT) for the lack of published guidance on the sanctions it can impose, as it overturned fines levied on four partners at a Merseyside firm. Brian Hazelhurst, Christopher Murphy, Stephen David Garrett and Martyn Robert Brown, ...
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News
Government legal aid response delayed
The government has delayed its responses to the legal aid and civil costs consultations until after Easter, and will ‘review’ the definition of domestic violence, the legal aid minister has said. Jonathan Djanogly had previously said the government would respond before Easter, but speaking at the ...
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Student loses LPC negligence action
An Oxford graduate has failed in an attempt to sue her law school for £100,000 after she failed to qualify as a solicitor. Russian-born Maria Abramova claimed that the ‘clearly negligent’ teaching on the Legal Practice Course (LPC) run by the Oxford Institute of Legal Practice ...
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News
LSC and Law Society fail to agree on civil contracts compensation
Firms that incurred losses after the High Court quashed the Legal Services Commission’s family tender last year will not receive compensation from the LSC, the Law Society announced today. Chancery Lane said it had been trying to negotiate a settlement arrangement with the LSC since last ...
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News
Legal advice ‘too expensive’ warns bar regulator’s chair
Legal advice is ‘too expensive’ and has ‘moved out of reach of the middle classes,’ the chair of the Bar Standards Board said this week. Speaking at Inner Temple, Lady Deech said: ‘The advice of a top barrister is affordable only by government, by corporate bodies ...
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News
Pressure prompts review of ‘domestic violence’ legal aid definition
The government has delayed its plans to respond to the legal aid and civil costs consultations until after Easter, and will ‘review’ the definition of domestic violence, the legal aid minister said last week. Jonathan Djanogly had previously said the government would respond before Easter, but ...
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News
Pressure prompts review of ‘domestic violence’ legal aid definition
The government has delayed its plans to respond to the legal aid and civil costs consultations until after Easter, and will ‘review’ the definition of domestic violence, the legal aid minister said last week. Jonathan Djanogly had previously said the government would respond before Easter, but ...
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News
Televise Supreme and Appeal Court hearings, says Neuberger
Some court hearings should be televised to increase public confidence in the justice system, the master of the rolls said this week. Giving the Judicial Studies Board annual lecture, Lord Neuberger suggested Supreme Court hearings and some Court of Appeal hearings should be televised on an ...
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News
Court strikes out filesharing actions
The Patents County Court struck out 27 alleged unlawful filesharing actions brought by London firm ACS:Law on behalf of its clients Media CAT yesterday. His Honour Judge Birss is now considering how much ACS:Law and Media CAT should pay in wasted costs, after accepting the submission ...
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News
Government unveils new immigration rules
The government unveiled new immigration rules today that will give wealthy entrepreneurs a ‘fast-track’ route to settling in the UK. It also published a policy statement outlining how the new 'exceptional talent' route under Tier One of the points-based system will operate from April this year. ...
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News
Judge slashes success fee in Trafigura dispute
A senior costs judge has cut the £105m costs claimed by London firm Leigh Day & Co following its action against oil company Trafigura. In a preliminary judgment last month, Master Hurst reduced the success fee that the firm can claim under the conditional fee agreement ...
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News
Magistrates fight planned court closures
The first two judicial review actions seeking to prevent magistrates’ court closures were issued last week, the Gazette has learned. The proceedings seek to challenge the planned closure of Sedgemoor Magistrates’ Court in Somerset and Barry Magistrates’ Court in the Vale of Glamorgan. ...
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News
Government publishes Defamation Bill
The Law Society has welcomed the debate over libel law reform following publication of the government’s draft Defamation Bill today. The bill, which is intended to bring libel law up-to-date, includes a new ‘public interest’ defence, and introduces the requirement for claimants to demonstrate ‘substantial ...
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News
New sentencing guidance for assault
The Sentencing Council has today published new guidance to judges and magistrates for assault offences. It aims to ensure a more consistent and proportionate approach to sentencing, with offenders receiving a sentence that reflects the harm they have caused to their victim and their culpability. ...
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News
Conveyancing firms alerted over CQS 'risk consultants'
The Law Society has warned conveyancing firms seeking to join its Conveyancing Quality Scheme (CQS) not to incur unnecessary costs by hiring unauthorised risk and compliance consultants to help with their applications. The CQS has received 633 applications from firms since the scheme’s launch in January ...
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News
Legal aid cuts 'to hit 150,000 more'
The government has underestimated the number of people who will be denied legal aid funding because of its reforms by more than 150,000, according to research published today by campaign body the Legal Action Group. LAG said the government’s prediction that 502,000 people would lose access ...