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The insider: 18 October 2024

18 October 2024 / Dominic Regan
Issue: 8090 / Categories: Opinion , Costs , In Court , Litigation funding , Court of Protection
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Christmas has come early for litigators & it’s all about the money! Dominic Regan shows he’s no turkey as he shares a feast of legal gems in this month’s exposé

After ten years in post, the senior costs judge is to retire at the end of this month. Given that he announced his intention some 18 months ago, one might reasonably anticipate that a successor would have been identified, ready to seamlessly slip in on 1 November. Well, no. Interviews have yet to take place and it will not be until February 2025 that the winning candidate will take office. In the interim, the eminently capable Costs Judge Rowley will hold the fort.

I would like to suggest that whoever does take over should address the dreadful delays encountered in the assessment of Court of Protection bills of costs. The Senior Courts Costs Office is taking something like 15 months to determine what solicitors should be paid. Where the bill seeks in excess of £35,000, the delay is even

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MOVERS & SHAKERS

Birketts—trainee cohort

Birketts—trainee cohort

Firm welcomes new cohort of 29 trainee solicitors for 2025

Keoghs—four appointments

Keoghs—four appointments

Four partner hires expand legal expertise in Scotland and Northern Ireland

Brabners—Ben Lamb

Brabners—Ben Lamb

Real estate team in Yorkshire welcomes new partner

NEWS
Robert Taylor of 360 Law Services warns in this week's NLJ that adoption of artificial intelligence (AI) risks entrenching disadvantage for SME law firms, unless tools are tailored to their needs
The Court of Protection has ruled in Macpherson v Sunderland City Council that capacity must be presumed unless clearly rebutted. In this week's NLJ, Sam Karim KC and Sophie Hurst of Kings Chambers dissect the judgment and set out practical guidance for advisers faced with issues relating to retrospective capacity and/or assessments without an examination
Delays and dysfunction continue to mount in the county court, as revealed in a scathing Justice Committee report and under discussion this week by NLJ columnist Professor Dominic Regan of City Law School. Bulk claims—especially from private parking firms—are overwhelming the system, with 8,000 cases filed weekly
Charles Pigott of Mills & Reeve charts the turbulent progress of the Employment Rights Bill through the House of Lords, in this week's NLJ
From oligarchs to cosmetic clinics, strategic lawsuits against public participation (SLAPPs) target journalists, activists and ordinary citizens with intimidating legal tactics. Writing in NLJ this week, Sadie Whittam of Lancaster University explores the weaponisation of litigation to silence critics
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