The importance of limiting a solicitor's involvement in the preparation of an expert's report
Expert evidence is often used during litigation to help the court understand matters where they do not possess the requisite technical or specialist knowledge on the area. Rules govern the use of experts in litigation and are contained in Part 35 of the Civil Procedure Rules (“CPR”) and Practice Direction 35. Expert evidence is not […]
Can summary judgment be made against ‘persons unknown’?
In the recent High Court case of Mooij v Persons Unknown [2024] EWHC 814 (Comm), the claimant brought a bitcoin fraud claim against multiple defendants, including the first and second "persons unknown" defendants (D1 and D2) who were described as being the fraudsters and beneficiaries of the fraud respectively. Mr Mooij sought summary judgment and […]
Understanding Part 36 Offers Through Hugh Grant’s Legal Battle
In the world of litigation, navigating the complexities of settlement offers, court rules, and the potential risks and rewards of proceeding to trial can be a daunting task. The case of Hugh Grant versus The Sun publisher, News Group Newspapers (NGN), serves as a prime example of the strategic decisions involved in legal disputes and […]
Collateral use of disclosed documents under CPR 31.22(2)
In the recent decision of Various Claimants v Mercedes-Benz Group Ag and others [2024] EWHC 695 (KB), the High Court provides some noteworthy comments for any party seeking to prevent the collateral use of disclosed documents under Rule 31.22(2) of the Civil Procedural Rules (CPR). What is the background to the Mercedes-Benz Group case? On […]
Do statutory limitation periods apply to unfair prejudice claims?
The "received wisdom" for several decades has been that unfair prejudice petitions under section 994 of the Companies Act 2006 are not subject to periods of limitation. However, in the landmark decision of the Court of Appeal (CA) in THG Plc v Zedra Trust Co (Jersey) Ltd [2024] EWCA Civ 158 (handed down on 23 […]
Company directors can still be liable for civil contempt
In the recent decision of ADM International Sarl v Grain House International SA and Elhachmi Boutgueray [2024] EWCA Civ 33, the Court of Appeal (CA) has confirmed that company directors can still be liable for civil contempt following revisions made to Part 81 of the Civil Procedural Rules (CPR) in 2020. Below we look briefly […]
Can the court stay proceedings to allow for ADR?
In a recent decision concerning the power of the court to compel parties to enter into alternative dispute resolution (ADR), it was held by the Court of Appeal that compulsory referral by the court is an option that parties may now be faced with. Below we look at the decision in Churchill v Merthyr Tydfil […]
Claiming interest when making a claim
Claiming interest can often be overlooked when bringing a monetary claim through the courts, not least when trying to keep costs to a minimum by litigating in person, ie; without the assistance of a solicitor. Still, even though the primary concern in this context is understandably recovery of the substantive outstanding sum, if that sum is […]
How does deliberate concealment impact the law on limitation?
In the recent landmark decision in Canada Square Operations Ltd v Potter [2023] UKSC 41, the meaning of the phrase "deliberate concealment" within a limitation context — where any fact relevant to a claim has been deliberately concealed from the claimant by the defendant — has been clarified by the Supreme Court. Below we look […]
Strengthening Business Resilience Through Dispute Resolution Management
Disputes in business are inevitable. They can arise from various sources, from contractual disputes to competition disputes and beyond. When such disputes occur, they can have severe consequences for the affected business, including lost revenue, damaged reputation, and costly legal fees. Therefore, having a solid strategy for managing and resolving disputes is crucial to any […]