Costs

Articles

The wrong target

If implemented as they are, Jackson LJ's proposals will shift costs from defendants to claimants and reduce rather than increase access to justice, says Nigel Cooksley QC

Up to speed

The electronic portal that will support the new RTA injury reforms will be central to the process, making it quicker and more efficient, and any claimant lawyers who haven't yet signed up should do so immediately, say John Spencer and Fraser Fundell

Known unknowns

ABSs could deliver genuine benefits but there is just no way of knowing at this stage whether the model will be suitable for your firm, says Jonathan Smithers

Mad rush

The new RTA regime will result in quicker but lower-quality settlements and claimants will suffer, says David Ellis

No more law lords as 'Sir John' joins Supreme Court

Sir John Dyson, formerly Lord Justice Dyson, will not be known as a 'lord' following his swearing in at the Supreme Court this morning, but merely as 'Sir John'. Female justices of the Supreme Court will be referred to as 'Dame', rather than 'Lady'.

Straw forced to scrap libel conditional fee cut

Justice secretary Jack Straw's plan to cut the maximum success fees charged by libel lawyers in conditional fee cases from 100 to ten per cent of damages has been dropped by the government.

Parliament to decide on criminal advocacy fee cuts today

A funding order cutting the fees of criminal legal aid advocates will be laid before both houses of Parliament today.

Faking it

Jackson LJ's recommendations for costs shifting could lead to an increase in fraudulent RTA claims, which will be detrimental to both genuine claimants and solicitors, warns Karen Rose