header-logo header-logo

Jackson: the shifting sands

05 April 2012 / Dominic Regan
Issue: 7509 / Categories: Opinion , Legal services , Costs
printer mail-detail

Dominic Regan hears the latest from Sir Rupert Jackson

From the outset, Lord Justice Jackson has insisted that his reform proposals were to be seen and applied as a single, coherent package. There should be no cherry-picking or even staggered implementation. It is blindingly clear that the key planks will be implemented. The days of recovering additional liabilities are numbered and the big bang is set to occur on 1 April 2013.

Last month, I attended two talks given in the City of London by Sir Rupert (CLAN Conference, 12 March and SCL Lecture, 26 March). I have picked up a number of signals, some more explicit than others, which practitioners concerned about the future might like to note.

Fixed fast-track costs

The most significant is that fixed fast-track costs may not be implemented next year. Lord Woolf recommended them in 1996. It never happened. The Jackson perspective is that fixed costs will solve many problems. They will impose proportionality upon

If you are not a subscriber, subscribe now to read this content
If you are already a subscriber sign in
...or Register for two weeks' free access to subscriber content

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
back-to-top-scroll