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The insider: 17 January 2025

17 January 2025 / Dominic Regan
Issue: 8100 / Categories: Opinion , Profession , Insurance / reinsurance
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Where would the legal profession be without the humble motorcar & the endless disputes it produces? Dominic Regan steers through credit hire confusion & secret commissions

Thank the Lord for the motor vehicle. The legal profession continues to thrive on the back of disputes generated by it, as recent law reports demonstrate.

The Court of Appeal in Johnson v Firstrand Bank Ltd [2024] EWCA Civ 1282 held that consumers who took out loans to purchase a car were entitled to compensation because the lenders paid a secret commission to the dealer who had referred the borrower to them. The judgment caused financial institutions to wobble amid talk of this opening the way to the next PPI claims bonanza. With remarkable alacrity, the Supreme Court has listed an appeal to be heard over three days, starting on 1 April.

Rob Weir KC won for the claimants in Johnson. He was also instructed by the unsuccessful appellant in the intriguing ongoing EUI Ltd v Smith [2024] EWHC 2803 (KB). This

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MOVERS & SHAKERS

Freeths—Suzanne Porter

Freeths—Suzanne Porter

Firm launches trusts, estates and tax practice in the north with senior hire

Fieldfisher—Guy Forster

Fieldfisher—Guy Forster

Personal injury and medical negligence team strengthened by partner hire

mfg Solicitors—Richard Port

mfg Solicitors—Richard Port

Firm appoints partner and head of family in Birmingham office

NEWS
AlphaBiolabs has donated £500 to The Christie Charity through its Giving Back initiative, helping to support cancer care, treatment and research across Greater Manchester, Cheshire and further afield
CILEX has called for a review of conveyancing fees and stronger regulation of the high-volume residential property sector, in its response to government proposals for homebuying reforms
Pension provision should be considered during all divorce proceedings in order to repair gender inequality, the Pension Policy Institute (PPI) charity and workplace pensions provider now:pensions have said
‘Over-regulating’ the cryptoassets sector could stifle growth when the government brings regulations into force in 2027, a digital assets lawyer has warned
Solicitors received a new year’s boost this month with the announcement of an uplift to the guideline hourly rates
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