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09 April 2009
Issue: 7364 / Categories: Opinion
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Ask Auntie

Back Page Agony Column

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This Week's Top Question

So much personal injury work now settles before counsel is brought in that chaps like me in my chambers are getting to court to advocate less and less. The last thing we want to be forced to do is don the double breasted and a crisp white shirt to get them soiled in some filthy cell or magistrates' court or receive tuppence for taking on ancillary reliefs where the respondent's assets these days amount to minus not less than 20 grand. Do you have any ideas, Auntie?

Roland Cressfall, Tibia Annex, Bath

I wonder whether the process of quantitative easing which is favoured as a means of kick-starting the economy by the printing of a heavy volume of banknotes could be imitated in this unfortunate situation. A number of road traffic and industrial accidents might be staged as a means of creating claims and thereby increase the prospect of work for members of the Bar. The devil would be in the detail but perhaps

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MOVERS & SHAKERS

Haynes Boone—Louise Woods

Haynes Boone—Louise Woods

Haynes Boone expands global capabilities with addition of Louise Woods as chair of international disputes

DWF—John Gilfedder

DWF—John Gilfedder

DWF strengthens Global Risks practice with strategic hire of aviation partner in London

Shakespeare Martineau—10 newly qualified solicitors

Shakespeare Martineau—10 newly qualified solicitors

Shakespeare Martineau appoints newly qualified solicitors

NEWS
When does a solicitor’s retainer become a contentious business agreement? The Court of Appeal’s decision in Broadfield Law UK LLP v Barnes shows that listing hourly rates alone will not do, leaving firms and clients uncertain about their rights over bills
MPs cannot simply resign their Commons seats. Instead, they take a nominal Crown office, usually the Chiltern Hundreds or Manor of Northstead, which disqualifies them from sitting
A divorced woman has secured funding to participate in her former husband’s inquest after the Legal Aid Agency reconsidered repeated refusals
The Thirlwall Inquiry has exposed a ‘complete failure’ to protect babies at the Countess of Chester Hospital, but its recommendations must now be put into practice
Developers in areas with poorly performing councils can apply directly to the Planning Inspectorate for permission under section 62A of the Town and Country Planning Act 1990
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