header-logo header-logo

Forecourt finance: what’s next?

Ceri Morgan analyses the response to lender liability in motor finance broker commission cases
  • In Hopcraft, the Court of Appeal found lenders liable for undisclosed commissions paid to secondhand car dealers arranging finance for their customers.
  • The decision was appealed to the Supreme Court, with the Financial Conduct Authority intervening to express concerns that the Court of Appeal’s approach went ‘too far’.
  • The article explores the market response to the Court of Appeal’s decision, the current state of the law in terms of the duties owed by motor dealer brokers, and the potential impact on the separation of powers debate.

The Court of Appeal’s decision in Johnson v FirstRand Bank Ltd (London Branch) (t/a MotoNovo Finance) [2024] EWCA Civ 1282 (Hopcraft) has sparked significant debate within the legal and financial sectors. The ruling, which has since been appealed to the Supreme Court, found lenders liable for undisclosed (or only partially disclosed) commissions paid to secondhand car dealers who were also arranging the finance for their customers.

The

If you are not a subscriber, subscribe now to read this content
If you are already a subscriber sign in
...or Register for two weeks' free access to subscriber content

MOVERS & SHAKERS

Fieldfisher—Will Sharp

Fieldfisher—Will Sharp

Fieldfisher boosts structured finance practice with appointment of Will Sharp

gunnercooke—Thomas Bjorn & Peter Rudd-Clarke

gunnercooke—Thomas Bjorn & Peter Rudd-Clarke

gunnercooke grows its life sciences team with new partner hires

Leonard Curtis Legal—Mark Maguire & Kane Jones

Leonard Curtis Legal—Mark Maguire & Kane Jones

Leonard Curtis Legal expands corporate team with twonew appointments

NEWS
The Attorney General, Ellie Reeves KC MP, and Solicitor General, Andy Slaughter KC MP, marked the 25th anniversary of Pro Bono Week by joining lawyers, charities, students and parliamentarians at events celebrating voluntary legal work
An indemnity costs battle with a £20m gap could reopen an important question: what weight should an approved budget carry?
The Environment Agency can prosecute offences beyond environmental legislation where proceedings support its statutory functions, the Divisional Court has confirmed
Should a conviction stand when a later ruling reveals that the law underpinning it was wrong? The answer exposes a clash between finality and justice
Witness evidence can be compromised by AI before a solicitor sees the draft, leaving safeguards focused on authorship incomplete
back-to-top-scroll