header-logo header-logo

13 September 2012 / David Greene
Issue: 7529 / Categories: Opinion , Legal services
printer mail-detail

Six months & counting...

David Greene counts down to the civil justice “Big Bang”

Slowly, slowly, the threads of the Jackson reforms are being entwined but there is much yet to do to determine the final product which is likely to lead to a very busy three months to the end of year when everything has to be in place for implementation by next April. The result is that, at the moment, there remains much uncertainty as to how the product will look. This is of considerable importance to those who trade in the particular areas affected by changes. Further the first sneakings of a potential costs war surrounding the changes are becoming evident.

The changes at the Ministry of Justice (MoJ) with the replacement of Ken Clarke by Chris Grayling are unlikely to make much difference to the civil justice reforms. Chris Grayling becomes the first non-lawyer as Lord Chancellor. Possibly a non-lawyer will have less sympathy with the profession and may drive the costs cutting exercise somewhat harder. Interestingly, however, the junior changes are likely to

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

NLJ Career Profile: Nikki Bowker, Devonshires

NLJ Career Profile: Nikki Bowker, Devonshires

Nikki Bowker, head of litigation and dispute resolution at Devonshires, on career resilience, diversity in law and channelling Elle Woods when the pressure is on

Ellisons—Sarah Osborne

Ellisons—Sarah Osborne

Leasehold enfranchisement specialist joins residential property team

DWF—Chris Air

DWF—Chris Air

Firm strengthens commercial team in Manchester with partner appointment

NEWS
Contract damages are usually assessed at the date of breach—but not always. Writing in NLJ this week, Ian Gascoigne, knowledge lawyer at LexisNexis, examines the growing body of cases where courts have allowed later events to reshape compensation
The Supreme Court has restored ‘doctrinal coherence’ to unfair prejudice litigation, writes Natalie Quinlivan, partner at Fieldfisher LLP, in this week' NLJ
The High Court’s refusal to recognise a prolific sperm donor as a child’s legal parent has highlighted the risks of informal conception arrangements, according to Liam Hurren, associate at Kingsley Napley, in NLJ this week
The Court of Appeal’s decision in Mazur may have settled questions around litigation supervision, but the profession should not simply ‘move on’, argues Jennifer Coupland, CEO of CILEX, in this week's NLJ
A simple phrase like ‘subject to references’ may not protect employers as much as they think. Writing in NLJ this week, Ian Smith, barrister and emeritus professor of employment law at UEA, analyses recent employment cases showing how conditional job offers can still create binding contracts
back-to-top-scroll