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10 December 2020
Issue: 7914 / Categories: Features , Procedure & practice , Civil way
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Civil Way: 11 December 2020

Pt 36 is juicy: official; New debt moratoria; Waking up to a mistake; Beware whiplash reforms; Prepare for higher court fees

ALL OR NOTHING

A judgment which beats a Pt 36 offer bears four juicy fruits, unless that would be unjust. In Telefonica UK Ltd v The Office of Communications [2020] EWCA Civ 1374, [2020] All ER (D) 55 (Nov), the mobile network operating claimant seeking restitution of annual licence fees paid to Ofcom had made a pre-action Pt 36 offer for a cool £52.82m principal as against a judgment for over £54m, in which interest also figured. The judge awarded two of the fruits, to wit indemnity costs from 21 days after the offer and an additional amount at the capped £75,000. However, he decided against the other two enhancements of interest on the principal and the costs (above the agreed commercial rate of 2% over base) which cannot exceed 10% above base. In relation to enhanced interest on the principal award and the judge’s reasoning that such an award would have

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MOVERS & SHAKERS

Flint Bishop—Charlotte Harris

Flint Bishop—Charlotte Harris

Sheffield expansion continues with appointment of commercial property partner

Browne Jacobson—Paul Duggan

Browne Jacobson—Paul Duggan

Browne Jacobson strengthens banking and finance practice with latest partner appointment Paul Duggan

Ward Hadaway—Chris Piggott

Ward Hadaway—Chris Piggott

Employment partner joins Ward Hadaway

NEWS
Mr Justice Nicklin’s decision to order costs on an indemnity basis may be a ‘significant win’ but it’s still ‘far from game, set and match’ for Associated Newspapers, a former costs judge has said
The Law Society RFC Festival of Sport returns next month, bringing together legal and financial services professionals for one of the sector’s largest annual sporting events
Legal aid deserts leave almost one in four without adequate access to justice
The Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA) has warned solicitors and law firms that using artificial intelligence does not alter their professional obligations, amid concerns over inaccurate legal material and client confidentiality
Can a meticulously maintained spreadsheet turn a couple’s informal financial arrangements into legally enforceable obligations? 
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