Practical Law

Lawyers toasting one more victory; Judges nipping at their robes; Yuletide bundles and their tabs, one, two, three; Defendants flinch as counsel probes. Everybody knows the court is the last place to go; Helps to make everything right. Each party with their eyes all aglow, Will not go down without a fight. They know that … Continue reading Happy holidays from the Practical Law Dispute Resolution Blog →

Disputes, not crime, settlements and fines, claimants file (let’s hope) within time, witnesses on the stand and experts paid a fee, a time to rejoice in the judiciary. As another year reaches its conclusion, the Practical Law Dispute Resolution blog will rest for the Christmas period. We will be back in early January. Until then, … Continue reading Best wishes for the festive season from the Dispute Resolution blog →

In the words of children’s author Norton Juster, “Expect everything so that nothing comes unexpected.” With that in mind, and as we all breathe a collective sigh of relief at having survived 2017, it is time to usher in another year with a look ahead at what dispute resolution developments can be expected in the … Continue reading What comes next: dispute resolution in 2018 →

As another year draws to a close, the Practical Law Dispute Resolution blog must pause for a short Christmas recess. We will be back on Wednesday 27 December 2017. If, however, you are looking for a new holiday tradition to accompany your turkey dinner, Queen’s Speech and wassailing, why not indulge in our annual top ten … Continue reading Season’s greetings from the Dispute Resolution blog →

The late Joe Jamail, formerly the wealthiest practising lawyer in the USA, is credited with the observation that “any good trial lawyer knows that if you’ve got one credible expert or scientific study, then you can let the jury decide.” He would have been in luck at this year’s Expert Witness Institute (EWI) annual conference, … Continue reading Expert Witness Institute Annual Conference 2017: Inside out, upside down, experts under pressure →

As you return to your desks following what was, hopefully, an enjoyable summer, you may be catching up on news items. One noteworthy development that may have slipped under your radar is the news that the Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA) has issued a warning notice on offensive communications.

Victor Hugo, he of Les Misérables fame, once expressed the view that: “There is only one thing stronger than all the armies of the world: and that is an idea whose time has come.”

Surprised? Why? Surely you should have seen something unexpected coming. After all, it was only a matter of months ago that the USA delivered a shock result: Warren Beatty and Faye Dunaway wrongly declared that La La Land had won the Academy Award for Best Picture at this year’s Oscars. Now we must reflect in … Continue reading Leaving us hanging: what dispute resolution practitioners can expect following the General Election 2017 →

As others have speculated, not only could the enactment of section 40 of the Crime and Courts Act 2013 run contrary to the values of ensuring a free press, it could upend what we understand about the general rule of costs: that is, the loser pays.

It has been a busy year for the Practical Law Dispute Resolution blog and we are taking a short break until Tuesday 3 January 2017. In the meantime, please do enjoy reflecting on key cases from the year that has been by indulging in our top ten tips from 2016. On behalf of all of … Continue reading Dispute Resolution blog over the 2016 Christmas period →

“If an expert says it can’t be done, get another expert.” So David Ben-Gurion, primary founder of the state of Israel and its first Prime Minister is said to have stated. It would be interesting to know how this notion would have been received at the Expert Witness Institute’s (EWI) Annual Conference 2016, which was … Continue reading Independent, impartial and incorruptible: Expert Witness Institute Annual Conference 2016 →

During my time as a stagiaire at the European Court of Human Rights, I remember gazing upon the strange building. Standing, as it does, like a huge oil repository, it reaffirmed initially my aversion to modern architecture. However, when a colleague explained that its glass structure represented transparency and accessibility, it suddenly made sense. That … Continue reading Open justice: adapting to a changing technological landscape →

Donald Rumsfeld, then US Secretary of State for Defence, is said to have commented in February 2002: “There are known knowns. There are things we know that we know. There are known unknowns. That is to say, there are things that we now know we don’t know.” It is safe to say that, what with … Continue reading What to expect when you’re expecting: court reforms, CPR and Brexit →

In 1943, Thomas Watson, then president of IBM, is said to have opined, “I think there is a world market for maybe five computers.” It’s very possible that you can now find five examples in your own living space, considering that, sitting at home last night, I had my smartphone pocketed, my tablet streaming television … Continue reading Changing landscapes: The impact of ODR technology on UK dispute resolution →

Although I consider myself a practical person, I do tend to find that when I suffer IT problems, my first reaction is to bellow obscenities and apply the brute force and ignorance method to a misbehaving desktop. I am utterly convinced that when the machines defeat us, it won’t be because of some glorious revolution; … Continue reading An online court: simply complex →

Practical Law’s newest Dispute Resolution team member, Jack Meek, ends the year by reflecting on notable legal developments from the past 12 months.