Insurers facing significant costs bill in Swift v Carpenter fight
December 9, 2020
Insurers made an unsuccessful attempt in the Court of Appeal to stop a seriously injured woman from claiming extra compensation for accommodation. For more information click here
Solicitor struck off after being called dishonest by judge
December 9, 2020
A Solicitors Disciplinary Tribunal heard that the solicitor had been found to falsely represented hourly rates in bills of cost and falsely claimed for costs on the basis that a senior fee earner had carried out the work. There were several other allegations of misconduct and the tribunal said this was a “client’s worst nightmare”. For more information click here
Tip of the Month!
October 27, 2020
Advocacy: try to keep advocacy in-house. It is the most cost effective area of LA family work and should be exercised as much as possible to create added value within the cost limitation of the certificate. Get bolt-ons authorised, does the final hearing qualify as a final hearing? If Counsel are instructed part way through inform them of the bundle payments already claimed.
Landmark decision opens way for uplift on CoP guideline hourly rates
October 27, 2020
A costs master has made the decision to uplift four costs bills claimed for Court of Protection work in what has been hailed as a landmark decision.
In PLK & Ors, Master Whelan stressed that he was unable to alter the rates, but could establish the courts’ approach to guideline rates accepting that rates should be subject to “some form of periodic, upwards review”. The master produced a table for future guidance applying a 20% uplift on 2010 figures. For more information click here
“Informed consent” required from PI clients for deduction of unrecovered costs
October 27, 2020
The High Court has ruled that PI law firms need to obtain “informed consent” to deductions for outstanding costs being made from their clients’ damages. Mr Justice Lavenders’ ruling in Belsner v Cam Legal Services Ltd [2020] EWHC 2755 (QB), in what he recognised was a test case, could yet end up in the Court of Appeal. To read more click here
