header-logo header-logo

11 December 2019 / Colin Campbell
Issue: 7868 / Categories: Features , Procedure & practice
printer mail-detail

Litigation trends: Jackson reviewed (Pt 2)

Having focused on case management & proportionality in his first update, Colin Campbell now turns his attention to Sir Rupert’s third interlocking reform—the electronic bill
  • Costs budgeting does not necessarily save any costs or achieve fairness through facilitating ‘Access to Justice’. On the contrary, budgeting in conjunction with proportionality is leading to unjust outcomes.

Part one looked at two of Sir Rupert Jackson’s flagship recommendations, costs management (encompassing costs budgeting) and proportionality under Civil Procedure Rule (CPR) 44.3(5) in force from 1 April 2013. Part two concentrates on recommendation 6.1(i) to (iv) of Chapter 45—the Electronic Bill of costs and goes on to review how the three are working in practice and whether they are fulfilling Sir Rupert’s aim of improving ‘Access to Justice’.

Prior to his report and indeed until 6 April 2018, a winning party entitled to costs needed to present their bill using the tried and tested paper formula under CPR 47.6 PD 5.12.

When writing his report, Sir Rupert complained that the paper bill was

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

Kennedys—Milan Devani

Kennedys—Milan Devani

Chief information officer appointment strengthens technology leadership

Maguire Family Law—Hannah Barlow & Sophie Hughes

Maguire Family Law—Hannah Barlow & Sophie Hughes

Firm strengthens Wilmslow team with two solicitor appointments

DWF—Ian Plumley

DWF—Ian Plumley

Londoninsurance and reinsurance practice announces partner appointment

NEWS
The Supreme Court has delivered a decisive ruling on termination under the JCT Design & Build form. Writing in NLJ this week, Andrew Singer KC and Jonathan Ward, of Kings Chambers, analyse Providence Building Services v Hexagon Housing Association [2026] UKSC 1, which restores the first-instance decision and curbs contractors’ termination rights for repeated late payment
Secondments, disciplinary procedures and appeal chaos all feature in a quartet of recent rulings. Writing in NLJ this week, Ian Smith, barrister and emeritus professor of employment law at UEA, examines how established principles are being tested in modern disputes
The AI revolution is no longer a distant murmur—it’s at the client’s desk. Writing in NLJ this week, Peter Ambrose, CEO of The Partnership and Legalito, warns that the ‘AI chickens’ have ‘come home to roost’, transforming not just legal practice but the lawyer–client relationship itself
A High Court ruling involving the Longleat estate has exposed the fault line between modern family building and historic trust drafting. Writing in NLJ this week, Charlotte Coyle, director and family law expert at Freeths, examines Cator v Thynn [2026] EWHC 209 (Ch), where trustees sought approval to modernise trusts that retain pre-1970 definitions of ‘child’, ‘grandchild’ and ‘issue’
Fresh proposals to criminalise ‘nudification’ apps, prioritise cyberflashing and non-consensual intimate images, and even ban under-16s from social media have reignited debate over whether the Online Safety Act 2023 (OSA 2023) is fit for purpose. Writing in NLJ this week, Alexander Brown, head of technology, media and telecommunications, and Alexandra Webster, managing associate, Simmons & Simmons, caution against reactive law-making that could undermine the Act’s ‘risk-based and outcomes-focused’ design
back-to-top-scroll