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21 May 2009 / Allan Reason , Ben Fairhead
Issue: 7370 / Categories: Features , Costs , Commercial
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Don't get wasted!

Allan Reason & Ben Fairhead highlight the dangers of acting without requisite authority

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The need to ensure that a corporate client provides proper authority to a firm of solicitors to act in proceedings is a point that can be easily overlooked, despite it being of crucial importance. A recent application for costs serves as a powerful illustration of what can happen when a firm acts without establishing the existence of that authority.

Recent scenario

The story starts in 2001 when a company (Company JV), until that point controlled exclusively by an individual (Mr K) at board and shareholder level, became a joint venture company. This followed the sale by one of the other companies controlled by Mr K (Company A) of its shareholding in Company JV to a separate company (Company B). Company B was a member of a different group of companies managed by a Mr D. Mr K and Mr D became the

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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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