Avi Dolties In recent years, UK courts have increasingly encouraged the use of mediation as an alternative dispute resolution (ADR) method, moving away from traditional litigation in an effort to lessen the burden on the courts and ensure more efficient and amicable resolutions. Mediation offers parties the opportunity to resolve disputes outside of the courtroom,…
Kathryn Regan It’s been another busy year in the world of Solicitor/Own client costs, with no shortage of decisions on the usual issues which crop up when former clients challenge their solicitor’s costs. The hot topic this year was whether a Solicitor’s invoice was or was not a statute bill, with numerous High Court cases…
Lindsay Woolford In 2024 there were a number of notable Cases on the issue of Cost Budgeting which is also on the Agenda for the CJC in 2025, and a ‘hot topic’ for potential reform with discussions relating to a new Precedent H and a Cost Budget light, as well as expanding the application of…
Avi Dolties Costs Budgeting Light Pilot Schemes: The 179th Practice Direction Update Cost management is evolving with the introduction of a simplified approach to cost budgeting, aimed at making the costs management process more efficient and accessible. With the latest Practice Direction updates, solicitors are required to familiarise themselves with the newly implemented procedures and…
Avi Dolties Case: GS Woodland Court GP 1 Ltd & Anor v RGCM Ltd & Ors [2025] EWHC 285 (TCC) The matter related to claim in respect of numerous alleged defects at a block of student accommodation. There are seven defendants. D1 was the construction manager. D2 was the architect. D3 was responsible for the…
Bridie Sanderson Following the continued updates from the SCCO, they have most recently advised as of 10 February 2025 the following turnaround on matters. It does appear that they are making steady progress month on month from these regular updates. The Cost Officers are currently working on bills of costs for which supporting papers were…
Avi Dolties Case: Baroness Lawrence of Clarendon OBE & Ors v Associated Newspapers Limited [2025] EWHC 106 (KB) Briefly, the circumstances were that each of the seven Claimants alleged against the Defendant that their private information had been misused by the Defendant and in the case of the First Claimant an additional claim was made…
Avi Dolties Case: JXX v Archibald [2025] EWHC 69 (SCCO) The Claimant was involved in a road traffic accident. The Claimant lost capacity. The claim was settled at a JSM. Detailed assessment proceedings were commenced on 20 September 2023 and a bill of costs was served totalling £901,026.98. Disbursements in addition to profit costs were…
Avi Dolties Case: Packer v Packer [2025] EWHC 27 (Ch) The Claimant, was the widow of the ‘deceased’ who died on 5 July 2022. She said that he died intestate. The Defendant was the sister of the deceased. She says that he made two wills before he died, one in 2017 and one in 2022,…
Avi Dolties Master of the rolls Sir Geoffrey Vos has announced a 3.65% increase to hourly rates in line with inflation. This has now come into effect from the 1 January 2025. The rates are as follows: Grade Fee earner London 1 London 2 London 3 National 1 National 2 A Solicitors and legal executives…