NLJ this week: Singing the praises of DBAs

17 March 2023

Issue: 8017 / Categories: Legal News , Procedure & practice , Costs , Damages , Legal services

Damages-based agreements (DBAs) are the seldom-used option when it comes to ‘no win no fee’ cases, but is their lack of popularity justified? In this week’s NLJ, solicitor and DBA-proponent Richard Spector, partner at Spector Constant and Williams shares his personal experience of running DBA cases.

Spector shares some insights and tips from his experience of running DBAs.

While there have been some negatives, he reveals that his experiences have been overwhelmingly positive. What’s more, there are some definite advantages of DBAs over conditional fee agreements, for example, he writes, ‘the DBA is genuinely like a joint venture between solicitor and client.

‘If the client is successful, then so is the solicitor. Similarly, if the client fails to win or achieve a good recovery, then the solicitor gets paid nothing or very little. The solicitor and client are in it together.’

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Michael Zander KC, Emeritus Professor at LSE, tracks the turbulent passage of the Terminally Ill Adults (End of Life) Bill through the House of Lords in this week's issue of NLJ. Two marathon debates drew contributions from nearly 200 peers, split between support, opposition and conditional approval

NLJ this week: Human Rights Act proves a healthy ‘transplant’ after 25 years

Alistair Mills of Landmark Chambers reflects on the Human Rights Act 1998 a quarter-century after it came into force, in this week's issue of NLJ

NLJ this week: Civil courts see new guidance, disputes and carers’ claims

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Barbara Mills KC, chair of the Bar 2025 and joint head of chambers at 4PB, sets out in this week's NLJ how the profession will respond to Baroness Harriet Harman KC’s review into bullying, harassment and sexual misconduct at the Bar

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NLJ this week: Singing the praises of DBAs

MOVERS & SHAKERS

NLJ Career Profile: Maria Karaiskos KC, Church Court Chambers

Kingsley Napley—Jenny Higgins

Bolt Burdon Kemp—Alan Collins & Danielle Vincent