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Backhand of justice

26 May 2011 / John Spencer
Issue: 7467 / Categories: Features , Personal injury
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Is the personal injury marketplace at odds with solicitor obligations? John Spencer investigates

There is no hiding the fact that the words “no win, no fee” have become synonymous in some circles with ambulance chasing lawyers and spurious claims. Systemic failings in the personal injury (PI) system have unleashed a merry go round of perverse commercial incentives. It is therefore unsurprising that Lord Justice Jackson in his Review of Civil Litigation Costs turned his attention to tackling these inadequacies.

The latest reaction to Jackson LJ’s review is the Ministry of Justice’s (MoJ’s) response The Reform of Civil Litigation Funding and Costs published in March 2011. In it, the MoJ outlined a number of areas which are planned to be the subject of legislation later this year, most likely in June, with implementation likely, at earliest, to be from April 2012. 

They include the abolition of recoverability of success fees and the introduction of qualified one-way cost shifting (QOCS).  With regard to the latter, there is a consequent removal of the need for after the

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MOVERS & SHAKERS

Hugh James—Phil Edwards

Hugh James—Phil Edwards

Serious injury teambolstered by high-profile partner hire

Freeths—Melanie Stancliffe

Freeths—Melanie Stancliffe

Firm strengthens employment team with partner hire

DAC Beachcroft—Tim Barr

DAC Beachcroft—Tim Barr

Lawyers’ liability practice strengthened with partner appointment in London

NEWS
Ceri Morgan, knowledge counsel at Herbert Smith Freehills Kramer LLP, analyses the Supreme Court’s landmark decision in Johnson v FirstRand Bank Ltd, which reshapes the law of fiduciary relationships and common law bribery
The boundaries of media access in family law are scrutinised by Nicholas Dobson in NLJ this week
Reflecting on personal experience, Professor Graham Zellick KC, Senior Master of the Bench and former Reader of the Middle Temple, questions the unchecked power of parliamentary privilege
Geoff Dover, managing director at Heirloom Fair Legal, sets out a blueprint for ethical litigation funding in the wake of high-profile law firm collapses
James Grice, head of innovation and AI at Lawfront, explores how artificial intelligence is transforming the legal sector
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