Dear Member
Welcome to this month’s newsletter which contains details of some of our future events and reports on those which have happened recently. We also reflect on the recent Court of Appeal judgment giving guidance as to relief from sanctions and the refusal of the Master of the Rolls to accept the CJC’s costs committee’s proposals as to amendment of guideline hourly rates.
RECENT EVENTS
Spring Lecture Series
Our Spring Lecture Series is now complete. The final lectures in this informative series were:
17 June 2014
“Tricks of the trade” from Michael Beloff QC of Blackstone Chambers who let us into the lessons he has learnt from his 33 years as a silk, arbitrator and judge.
30 June 2014
“Fighting the FCA: Developments in regulatory litigation” by Javan Herberg QC of Blackstone Chambers.
Javan Herberg surveyed recent activity in the Regulatory Decisions Committee of the FCA and matters referred from there to the Upper Tribunal. He also examined, from the perspective of a firm or individual wishing to avert or resist FCA disciplinary measures, procedure and tactics.
JLSLA Summer BBQ – 8 July 2014
The JLSLA Summer BBQ went with a swing. The evening provided junior members with the opportunity to meet and enjoy a Pimms bar, which also serve wine/beer and non-alcoholic beverages, and a BBQ.
FUTURE EVENT
Annual Dinner – 26 November 2014
Our Annual Dinner will be held on 26 November 2014. We shall circulate details in due course, but in the meantime, please reserve the date.
NEW MITCHELL GUIDANCE
New guidance from the Court of Appeal on granting relief from sanction was widely welcomed by the profession in early July. Past president David Greene was quoted in many publication on the topic, such as:
- 4 July, Solicitors Journal, “Post Mitchell costs regime clarified by the Court of Appeal” featuring quotes from David Greene (see www.solicitorsjournal.com/news/litigation/costs/post-mitchell-costs-regime-clarified-court-appeal)
- 4 July, Law Society Gazette, “Mitchell judgments restore co-operation to litigation” featuring quotes from David Greene (see www.lawgazette.co.uk/practice/mitchell-judgments-restore-co-operation-to-litigation-law-society/5042054.article)
- 7 July, Litigation Futures, “Profession lauds Court of Appeal’s approach in Mitchell 2” featuring quotes from David Greene (see www.litigationfutures.com/news/profession-lauds-court-appeals-approach-mitchell-2)
- 9 July, New Law Journal, “Culture of Compliance “ by David Green commenting on the impact of the “Mitchell three” (see www.newlawjournal.co.uk/nlj/content/culture-compliance)
- 14 July, Law Society Gazette, “News Focus – Revised Mitchell guidance” containing quotes from David Greene (see www.lawgazette.co.uk/law/law-reports/criminal-law/law/news-focus-revised-mitchell-guidance/5042184.article)
NO CHANGE TO GUIDELINE HOURLY RATES
To the surprise of many the Master of the Rolls, Lord Dyson, rejected the proposals put forward by the costs committee of the CJC to revise guideline hourly rates. Our president John Bramhall was quoted in several publication commenting on the move, for instance:
- 29 July 2014, Litigation Futures, “Costs committee under fire after rejection of the GHR plans” (see www.litigationfutures.com/news/costs-committee-fire-rejection-ghr-plans)
- 29 July 2014, Solicitors Journal, “Legal executives to recoup same fees as solicitors” (see http://www.solicitorsjournal.com/news/management/education-and-training/legal-executives-recoup-same-fees-solicitors)
- 30 July 2014, New Law Journal, “No change to guideline hourly rates” (see http://www.lsla.co.uk/node/372)
UPDATED BAR CONTRACT
Following regulatory changes, solicitors are increasingly being asked to enter into formal contracts with barristers. The City of London Law Society and Commercial Bar Association negotiated specimen terms designed to assist in commercial cases. Those terms have now been updated to build on practical experience, clarify the effect of certain terms, and reflect additional regulatory changes. A copy of the revised version can be found on the CLLS website at http://www.citysolicitors.org.uk/index.php?option=com_content&view=category&id=159&Itemid=471.
LSLA – RECENT PRESS
Since our last newsletter, committee members of the LSLA and JLSLA have written various articles for national publications including:
- 23 June, Law Society Gazette, “Expert evidence under the spotlight” quoting Francesca Kaye (see http://www.lawgazette.co.uk/practice/expert-evidence-under-the-spotlight/5041804.article)
- 27 June, New Law Journal, “Guideline Hourly Rates; the wrong approach” by Richard Langley (see www.newlawjournal.co.uk/nlj/content/guideline-hourly-rates-wrong-approach)
- 1 July, Solicitors Journal, ”Fighting the war on costs” by John Bramhall (see http://www.solicitorsjournal.com/litigation/costs/fighting-war-costs)
- 7 July, LawCareers.net, “Why become a Civil Litigator” by Mary Hodgson (see lawcareers.net/Information/LCNSays/Civil-litigation-whats-in-it-for-me)
- 7 July, Solicitors Journal, “Privileged Position” by Julian Copeman (see www.solicitorsjournal.com/crime/procedure/privileged-position-0)
LSLA WEBSITE
Our new website is now up and running. Please do visit it at http://www.lsla.co.uk/.
The website includes: details of our forthcoming events, copies of the responses we have filed to recent consultations, recent articles and press citing members of the association, and past editions of the newsletter.
You can also join the LSLA via our website as well as sign up for future events on it.
We hope that our new website will prove a source of information for members. Please let us know if you have any comments on it.
Now that the website has been launched we are working on providing feeds to our LinkedIn and Twitter addresses.
LSLA MEMBERSHIP
The form for any new members who wish to join is attached. If you are 8 years PQE or less you will automatically become a member of the JLSLA if you complete the section of the application form identifying your year of admission.
The LSLA also offers corporate membership to firms. Essentially, for £500 a firm with corporate membership can register an unlimited number of litigation solicitors working for it in London as members. Please contact Julian Copeman at julian.copeman@hsf.com if you would like to take out corporate membership.
You can also join the LSLA by visiting our website at http://www.lsla.co.uk/.
LIST OF SUPERVISING SOLICITORS
The White Book refers to the LSLA maintaining details of individuals who might be able to act as supervising solicitors for the execution of Search Orders. Our list continues to grow and is updated quarterly. We invite those suitably qualified to provide us with their details, including relevant experience, for inclusion on the list.
The Junior LSLA
The JLSLA provides:
- seminars designed to offer practical tips on procedural and substantive legal issues commonly faced by junior civil litigators in an interactive and relaxed atmosphere;
- networking events for members to meet and form contacts in their peer group; and
- e-news on recent and future activity and key developments with the aim of ensuring that the junior perspective is reflected in the LSLA's responses to consultation papers.
The JLSLA is aimed at solicitors of 8 years PQE and less. Members of the LSLA will automatically become members of the JLSLA if they qualify by year of admission and complete the relevant section of the membership form (copy attached). The JSLA also has firm Champions, who act as the point of contact between the JLSLA committee and their firm.
If you are interested in joining the JLSLA or being the JLSLA Champion for your firm, please contact the JLSLA President, Caroline Field, at cfield@foxlawyers.com.
The JLSLA can also be contacted via their LinkedIn profile at http://www.linkedin.com/groups/Junior-London-Solicitors-Litigation-Association-4438638/about?trk=anet_ug_grppro.
