Contingency fee advice

The Law Society has issued a practice note advising solicitors on new regulations relating to contingency fees and other damages-based agreements in employment tribunal matters. See www.lawsociety.org.uk.

Commercial claims up
High Court commercial claims for more than £25,000 rose 10% from 2,799 in the fourth quarter of 2008 to 3,090 in the fourth quarter of 2009, according to research by City firm Reynolds Porter Chamberlain. High Court claims of more than £25,000 rose from 5,890 in the first half of 2009 to 6,372 in the second half. The rise was attributed to a surge in litigation arising from the economic downturn.

Family instruction delay
The Official Solicitor has written to family lawyers to inform them that he is unable to accept new instructions to act as a guardian or litigation friend without some delay, due to a marked rise in requests for him to act in public law cases over recent months.

Prisoner voting rights
The Council of Europe is expected to criticise the UK government this week for its continuing refusal to act on a 2005 European Court of Human Rights ruling that prisoners are entitled to vote in elections, as they are in most EU member states. Prisoners may be entitled to compensation.

New college head
Richard Haggett has been appointed head of the College of Law’s Manchester centre. The former Manchester solicitor worked at local insurance specialists James Chapman & Co before joining the College of Law in 2002.

New PII practice note
The Law Society has issued a practice note to explain the position of solicitors when a professional indemnity insurer becomes insolvent. The information does not indicate that the Society holds information about the financial position of any qualifying insurers beyond that which is publicly available, and does not change its position on Quinn. The latest Quinn update is available at www.lawsociety.org.uk.

Will groups join forces
Will Aid and the Certainty National Will Register are to join forces permanently following a successful trial during last year’s Will Aid campaign. Certainty provided free will registration to 3,500 people during the campaign, which saw 12,000 people visit solicitors to make a will. Lawyers waived their fees in return for a suggested donation to the Will Aid charity.

Amnesty allegations
Amnesty International accused the UK government of ‘grave violations’ of human rights in its annual report, including detention without charge or trial and other ‘unfair judicial proceedings’. See www.amnesty.org.uk.

Carsberg for president
Sir Bryan Carsberg has been appointed the first president of the E-Homebuying Forum. He is a former director general of the Office of Fair Trading and Oftel.