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Law digests: 8 March 2024

08 March 2024
Issue: 8062 / Categories: Case law , In Court , Law digest
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Arbitration

H1 and another v W and others [2024] EWHC 382 (Comm), [2024] All ER (D) 155 (Feb)

The Commercial Court held that W should be removed as arbitrator pursuant to section 24(1) of the Arbitration Act 1996 on grounds of apparent bias. The claimants (the insurer) had sought the removal of W, a British Film Institute nominated arbitrator, from his role in determining an insurance dispute. The insurer complained that statements made by W, concerning his knowledge of the insured’s factual and expert witnesses, give rise to an apprehension that he has pre-determined favourable views of those witnesses and pre-determined negative views of the insurer’s witnesses. It also complained about the inconsistency of explanations given by W as to the nature and extent of his relationships with the insured witnesses. The court held that the arbitrator had expressed a clear view that it was not necessary for them to be called because: ‘I know them all personally extremely well on the [insured’s] side.’ That was not an expression of a balanced and impartial

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MOVERS & SHAKERS

Birketts—trainee cohort

Birketts—trainee cohort

Firm welcomes new cohort of 29 trainee solicitors for 2025

Keoghs—four appointments

Keoghs—four appointments

Four partner hires expand legal expertise in Scotland and Northern Ireland

Brabners—Ben Lamb

Brabners—Ben Lamb

Real estate team in Yorkshire welcomes new partner

NEWS
Robert Taylor of 360 Law Services warns in this week's NLJ that adoption of artificial intelligence (AI) risks entrenching disadvantage for SME law firms, unless tools are tailored to their needs
The Court of Protection has ruled in Macpherson v Sunderland City Council that capacity must be presumed unless clearly rebutted. In this week's NLJ, Sam Karim KC and Sophie Hurst of Kings Chambers dissect the judgment and set out practical guidance for advisers faced with issues relating to retrospective capacity and/or assessments without an examination
Delays and dysfunction continue to mount in the county court, as revealed in a scathing Justice Committee report and under discussion this week by NLJ columnist Professor Dominic Regan of City Law School. Bulk claims—especially from private parking firms—are overwhelming the system, with 8,000 cases filed weekly
Charles Pigott of Mills & Reeve charts the turbulent progress of the Employment Rights Bill through the House of Lords, in this week's NLJ
From oligarchs to cosmetic clinics, strategic lawsuits against public participation (SLAPPs) target journalists, activists and ordinary citizens with intimidating legal tactics. Writing in NLJ this week, Sadie Whittam of Lancaster University explores the weaponisation of litigation to silence critics
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