Posts from St Philips Stone Chambers

The proper boundaries of Practice Direction 6B paragraph 3.1(20)(a): Orexim Trading Ltd v Mahavir Port and Terminal Private Ltd and others

In Orexim Trading Ltd v Mahavir Port and Terminal Private Ltd and others, the court held that Practice Direction (PD) 6B paragraph 3.1(20)(a) was to be interpreted narrowly. A claim under section 423 of the Insolvency Act 1986 did not fall within it simply because it was made pursuant to an enactment. The court stated it would … Continue reading The proper boundaries of Practice Direction 6B paragraph 3.1(20)(a): Orexim Trading Ltd v Mahavir Port and Terminal Private Ltd and others

High Court grants interim relief following email fraud

In Kahlbetzer v VFX Financial PLC, the High Court confirmed the availability of a range of interim relief where a claimant had suffered a US $1 million loss as a result of an email fraud.

Recusal applications: procedure and practice reviewed

In Miley v Friends Life Ltd, the High Court gave some valuable guidance on the mechanics and considerations behind the making of a recusal application.

Contractual interpretation: the role of contra proferentem and other principles

It seems as if there has recently been a glut of upper court decisions on contractual interpretation. In Persimmon Homes Limited v Ove Arup & Partners Limited the principle of contra proferentem and the guidelines in Canada Steamship Lines Ltd v The King came under scrutiny.

First Subsea Ltd v Balltec Ltd and others: implications for litigators

In March, the Court of Appeal delivered its decision in First Subsea Ltd v Balltec Ltd and others, clarifying the ambit of section 21 of the Limitation Act 1980 in relation to directors. This blog looks at some of the practical implications and lessons for litigators.

Pursuing the man behind the straw man: non-party costs orders

Whilst it is always satisfying to win at trial, there is little which darkens the mood more than learning that your vanquished opponent is, in fact, impecunious and unable to pay your costs. The good news is that, depending on the circumstances, you could seek an order that a non-party pays the costs of the … Continue reading Pursuing the man behind the straw man: non-party costs orders

Place your bets: Attheraces v Ladbrokes and pre-action disclosure

Overview of the application In Attheraces Ltd and another v Ladbrokes Betting and Gaming Ltd and others, potential proceedings concerned the alleged misuse of horseracing broadcasts (the off-tube commentaries).

Serving you in four months or less: deemed service in Brightside Group Ltd and others v RSM UK Audit LLP and another

The underlying facts of this case (alleged negligence by the defendant in conducting due diligence of a transaction code-named “Project Pigeon”) are less significant than the potentially wide-ranging consequences of the decision for the time within which documents must be served in order to comply with the Civil Procedure Rules (CPR).

Litigants in person, McKenzie Friends and reform

Over the last 15 years there has been a growth in the number of individuals acting in civil proceedings as litigants in person (LiP). There are a range of factors underlying this, including the rising cost of accessing legal services, the increase in the small claims limit and the dramatic reduction in legal aid effected … Continue reading Litigants in person, McKenzie Friends and reform

Arbitration, litigation and the growth of the common law

In the recent BAILII Lecture 2016 the Lord Chief Justice (LCJ) called for a rebalancing of the relationship between arbitration and the courts. The LCJ’S primary concern was that the present turning which the law had taken in 1979 and the Nema Guidelines, largely embedded in the Arbitration Act 1996 (AA 1996), had stunted the … Continue reading Arbitration, litigation and the growth of the common law

Immunities and the importance of pleading

The decision Al Attiya v Bin-Jassim Bin-Jaber Al Thani has highlighted recently the importance of pleading when bringing an action against a state. The claimant, a member of a prominent Qatari family, brought proceedings against the defendant, who was a former prime minister of Qatar, for damages for trespass to his land and to his … Continue reading Immunities and the importance of pleading