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The insider: 17 March 2023

17 March 2023 / Dominic Regan
Issue: 8017 / Categories: Opinion , Costs , Procedure & practice , Litigation funding , ADR , Profession
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Fixed costs to come when the leaves fall? Dominic Regan tackles listing woes, distressed litigation funders & what’s spooking the banks

I have it in writing from Lord Bellamy KC. ‘The extension of fixed recoverable costs will be implemented in October 2023,’ he wrote on 27 February. The failure to deliver rules as promised last October and then a further postponement of changes next month had led more than a few to think it was all going to be abandoned.

A reprieve has been granted in housing cases. There was genuine concern that those in dire straits would lose all hope of representation in such matters if costs were suppressed by regulations. Last month, the Ministry of Justice confirmed that nothing would change for two years. In fact, the delay will be longer. It might be forever. A general election must take place by 24 January 2025. In all probability it will be before then. As soon as a date is fixed, the civil service enters a

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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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