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22 November 2019 / Dominic Regan
Issue: 7865 / Categories: Features
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Predicting the (civil litigation) road ahead

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Significant changes are in the pipeline & lawyers need to be aware of what is planned. Dominic Regan puts down some markers

The civil reform process is not over. Intriguingly, the one reform that has attracted the most publicity seems unlikely to be implemented in the near future. The last government legislated for personal injury reforms designed to stifle lower value road traffic claims in particular. April 2020 was definitely going to be the date of implementation. Since fundamentals such as a new Protocol and precise Rules have yet to be addressed, April looks preposterous. As and when the reforms are implemented, the bottom will drop out of lower value claims which up to now have provided bread and butter work for solicitors and the Bar. Sir Rupert Jackson cut his teeth doing cases where the defendant failed to stop, steer or otherwise avoid a collision.

The major change coming is the extension of fixed costs. Everything up to £25,000 will be captured, as will the majority of claims worth from

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EIP—Stuart Malcolm

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EIP strengthens Commercial practice with a new partner

Ellisons—Francesca Brown

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Shakespeare Martineau—Marie Bourke

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Shakespeare Martineau strengthens Sheffield regulatory practice with new hires

NEWS
A wide-ranging Civil Way column highlights developments from insolvency procedure to employment law, but one case stands out for its lessons on bankruptcy, family homes and digital communications
A sprawling Intellectual Property Office battle between House of Fraser and Frasers Property has delivered a masterclass in modern trade mark law
Courts in England and Wales and Singapore are increasingly confronting complex disputes over international child relocation as families become more globally mobile
The government’s long-awaited family law reform consultation could mark a turning point for domestic abuse victims navigating financial remedy proceedings, but significant challenges remain
A new commercial court pilot giving the public access to documents used in hearings, including expert reports, is raising difficult questions about transparency and privacy
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