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The insider: 17 December 2021

17 December 2021 / Dominic Regan
Issue: 7961 / Categories: Opinion , Profession
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Feeling starstruck? Dominic Regan sizes up the Master of the Rolls & takes shelter from recent grenades tossed into the world of costs management

I am not easily impressed. Many famous people have met me over the years. Wayne Rooney did make an impression at the Lowry Hotel in Manchester, where he stood on my tender foot without apology. Fortunately, Christina Lambert QC (as was) was in the foyer and came over to say hello, which was lovely of her.

Last month I spent 45 minutes in the presence of our Master of the Rolls (MR), Sir Geoffrey Vos, who had come to deliver the keynote speech at the Association of Costs Lawyers (ACL) Conference, a sell-out live event. We had a chat beforehand, and I was smitten. Modest, charming, and with a clear agenda for reform.

He thinks we have far too many rules. His beloved White Book, which he still uses to this day, was the 1999 edition. It was the last one to set out the Rules

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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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