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04 June 2020 / Neil Parpworth
Issue: 7889 / Categories: Features , Covid-19 , Procedure & practice
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COVID-19 & the courts: the show must go on

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Neil Parpworth outlines how access to justice, through the function of the courts, must continue during the coronavirus pandemic
  • The claim: damages in excess of £250m.
  • The rival submissions: would proceeding with trial be inconsistent with the prime minister’s instruction?
  • Judgment: a very clear message from legislature.

With the global coronavirus pandemic having a profound impact on the way in which many of us now work, if we are lucky enough to continue to have a job, and how businesses and services are able to operate, the recent decision in Re One Blackfriars Ltd (in liquidation) Hyde and another (joint liquidators of One Blackfriars Ltd) v Nygate (in his capacity as representatives of the estate of James Joseph Bannon) and another [2020] EWHC 845 (Ch), [2020] All ER (D) 75 (Apr) provides an interesting example of some of the issues which the pandemic has raised in terms of access to justice and the continuing operation of the courts. More particularly, it required the

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MOVERS & SHAKERS

Gateley Legal—Caroline Pope & Bob Maynard

Gateley Legal—Caroline Pope & Bob Maynard

Construction team bolstered by hire of senior consultant duo

Switalskis—four appointments

Switalskis—four appointments

Firm expands residential conveyancing team with quadruple appointment

mfg Solicitors—Claire Pope

mfg Solicitors—Claire Pope

Private client team welcomes senior associatein Worcester

NEWS
What safeguards apply when trust corporations are appointed as deputy by the Court of Protection? 
Disputing parties are expected to take part in alternative dispute resolution (ADR), where this is suitable for their case. At what point, however, does refusing to participate cross the threshold of ‘unreasonable’ and attract adverse costs consequences?
When it comes to free legal advice, demand massively outweighs supply. 'Millions of people are excluded from access to justice as they don’t have anywhere to turn for free advice—or don’t know that they can ask for help,' Bhavini Bhatt, development director at the Access to Justice Foundation, writes in this week's NLJ
When an ex-couple is deciding who gets what in the divorce or civil partnership dissolution, when is it appropriate for a third party to intervene? David Burrows, NLJ columnist and solicitor advocate, considers this thorny issue in this week’s NLJ
NLJ's latest Charities Appeals Supplement has been published in this week’s issue
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