All articles by John Hyde – Page 358
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News
SRA denies 2,000 firms in crisis talks
The Solicitors Regulation Authority has denied it has ‘serious concerns’ about the financial stability of 2,000 firms, as new figures show the number of firms declining to the lowest level since it began collecting data. Chris Smyth, former head of legal services for bank Cheltenham ...
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Top-40 firms seek ABS status, research shows
Almost a quarter of the UK’s top-40 firms may seek to join with a non-solicitors practice in the next two years, according to research. A poll of leading firms by accountancy and investment management group Smith & Williamson found nine firms are keen on forming an ...
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QS firms poised for ABS status
Several QualitySolicitors firms are considering moving to alternative business structure status, the group revealed today. Midlands firm QS Parkinson Wright today became the second of its stable to be licensed as an ABS by the Solicitors Regulation Authority. It joined four other ...
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Status quo is best for Wales
Sometimes, no matter what the Scouts say, it’s best not to be prepared. I spent much of my journey to Wales this morning writing a brilliant piece on why Wales was making a mistake going it legally alone by setting up a separate jurisdiction. As it ...
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High-cost cases to escape new management rules
Commercial cases worth more than £2m will be exempt from new costs management rules, the judiciary has decided. A document issued today says that the exemption was made in an amendment to the Civil Procedure Rules finalised last week. Costs management is ...
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Government ‘hiding’ RTA Portal evidence, Society claims
The Law Society has accused the government of hiding key information on which it based controversial new personal injury fees. The Ministry of Justice has rejected the society’s freedom of information request for the full report into the future reform of the RTA Portal extension. ...
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MoJ considers ending lump sum PI damages
Ministers are to consider the case for successful personal injury claimants to receive damages over a period of time rather than in one lump sum. The Ministry of Justice revealed last week that it is considering a change to the current payments regime – as well ...
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US eases curbs on foreign in-house lawyers
Foreign-qualified lawyers are to be allowed to work as in-house counsel at US companies in all 50 states for the first time, the American Bar Association (ABA) has resolved.
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Wales to decide on legal jurisdiction
Wales first minister Carwyn Jones (pictured) is today set to reveal whether he backs a separate legal jurisdiction for the country. His long-awaited response to last year’s consultation is expected to recommend a separation of powers. A move towards a Welsh jurisdiction has been widely predicted ...
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Wales says no to separation – for now
Wales will not have a separate legal jurisdiction for at least a decade, the country’s first minister confirmed today. Carwyn Jones (pictured) said the estimated £1.2bn cost of devolving the entire criminal justice system would put too much pressure on the Welsh budget. ...
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Keystone offers £1 top-up insurance cover
Top-up legal expenses insurance cover with premiums that can be recovered after 1 April are being sold for just £1, the Gazette can reveal. After-the-event (ATE) insurer Keystone Legal is offering a product for cases insured by other legal expenses insurers that run out of cover, ...
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News
Bypassing lawyers would save £1.5bn, insurer claims
Removing lawyers altogether from the small-claims process would save each motorist an average £60 a year on their car insurance premiums, a major insurer today claimed. In a report into the personal injury sector Aviva called for claimants to go directly to the ‘at-fault’ insurer rather ...
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News
Majority against IFA referral move
A decision to lift restrictions on referrals to independent financial advisers was made despite the majority of consultation respondents opposing the move, the Gazette has learned. The Solicitors Regulation Authority decided last November to allow solicitors to refer clients to any financial adviser regardless of ...
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News
Cobbetts’ debt recovery arm finds a buyer
Administrators today confirmed that the final unsold part of defunct law firm Cobbetts has been acquired.
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‘Rolled-up’ hearing for RTA Portal challenges
A legal challenge to halt cuts to personal injury fees will be fast-tracked through the High Court, it was revealed today. The judicial review application by two claimant groups in opposition to new recoverable fixed costs in the RTA Portal has been listed for a ...
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News
MoJ sets out rules for post-Jackson civil justice system
The Ministry of Justice today sets out in detail how the Jackson reforms will work when the majority come into force on 1 April. In a statutory instrument laid down in parliament, the department sets out the Civil Procedure (Amendment) Rules that will set out the ...
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Cobbetts creditors must wait and hope
Further details have emerged of defunct firm Cobbetts’ financial troubles as administrators begin talks with creditors.
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Damages discounts may rise following new evidence - MoJ
Justice minister Helen Grant today said initial evidence may support a rise in the discount rate used to calculate deductions from compensation awards. The government has opened a second part to a consultation with the legal and insurance professions that began last year. It will run ...
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News
In the dark over Jackson
There are times as a journalist when it feels good to be the only one that knows something. Whether it’s an embargoed explosive report or an ‘off-the-record’ chat, knowledge is power. But there are some times when knowledge sits uncomfortably, when those who should know are ...
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Small-claims limit could rise above £5,000, Grayling admits
Justice secretary Chris Grayling has said the proposed new small-claims court limit of £5,000 may be ‘too low’ – despite the ongoing consultation on raising the figure from £1,000. Grayling (pictured) told parliament on Tuesday that raising the small-claims limit to £5,000 would mean ...