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07 January 2010 / Jonathan Wyles
Issue: 7399 / Categories: Features , Regulatory
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2009—annus horribilis?

Last year was a busy year for professional negligence claims Jonathan Wyles predicts more
of the same in 2010

The Woolf Reforms, introduced in 1999, led to a dramatic decrease in the number of proceedings issued. Pre-action Protocols have kept commercial disputes out of the courts. In 2006 and 2007 the number of civil proceedings issued in the High Court was approximately 63,000–64,000. However, in 2008 this increased by almost 10% to 70,200, and in 2009 is likely to be higher.

As with the recession in the 1990s, there has been a dramatic increase in the number of claims brought by lenders against solicitors seeking to recover the losses suffered after the sale of repossessed properties. The fall out from the “buy to let” market, which saw the demise of such institutions as the Bradford & Bingley, is responsible for many of these claims. Property fraud is once again making the headlines. The Law Society has increased the levy to cover the expected call upon the Compensation Fund.

Many solicitors experienced difficulties in securing

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MOVERS & SHAKERS

Jurit LLP—Caroline Williams

Jurit LLP—Caroline Williams

Private wealth and tax team welcomes cross-border specialist as consultant

HFW—Simon Petch

HFW—Simon Petch

Global shipping practice expands with experienced ship finance partner hire

Freeths—Richard Lockhart

Freeths—Richard Lockhart

Infrastructure specialist joins as partner in Glasgow office

NEWS
Talk of a reserved ‘Welsh seat’ on the Supreme Court is misplaced. In NLJ this week, Professor Graham Zellick KC explains that the Constitutional Reform Act treats ‘England and Wales’ as one jurisdiction, with no statutory Welsh slot
The government’s plan to curb jury trials has sparked ‘jury furore’. Writing in NLJ this week, David Locke, partner at Hill Dickinson, says the rationale is ‘grossly inadequate’
A year after the $1.5bn Bybit heist, crypto fraud is booming—but so is recovery. Writing in NLJ this week, Neil Holloway, founder and CEO of M2 Recovery, warns that scams hit at least $14bn in 2025, fuelled by ‘pig butchering’ cons and AI deepfakes
After Woodcock confirmed no general duty to warn, debate turns to the criminal law. Writing in NLJ this week, Charles Davey of The Barrister Group urges revival of misprision or a modern equivalent
Family courts are tightening control of expert evidence. Writing in NLJ this week, Dr Chris Pamplin says there is ‘no automatic right’ to call experts; attendance must be ‘necessary in the interests of justice’ under FPR Pt 25
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