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The insider: 15 December 2023

15 December 2023 / Dominic Regan
Issue: 8053 / Categories: Opinion , Profession , Costs , ADR , Personal injury
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Dominic Regan signs off the year covering a flurry of late developments without equal this century

A pay rise! Good riddance to Latin in judgments! That old tosh about judges being powerless to order ADR sent to recycling! Major Supreme Court guidance handed down about expert evidence (and lay witnesses too). It has all kicked off over the last few weeks. This flurry of late developments is without equal this century.

Guideline hourly rates go up on 1 January. The increases are approximately between 6–7%. How generous are the revised figures? While any enhancement is welcome, there is not much cause for ecstasy.

I sought the views of Andrew McAulay who is top banana in costs at Clarion Solicitors. His firm deals with costs on behalf of over 200 law firms and advises counsel too: ‘The increase doesn’t align with what is happening commercially in law firms. Also, Grade A work (outside of the City) for complex and high value multi track work is often charged at £400 minimum.

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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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