Compulsory Mediation for Small Claims in England and Wales
Compulsory mediation is now mandatory for small claims under £10,000. Our litigation specialists are masters of ADR and regularly help clients navigate mediation in England & Wales.
Compulsory mediation is now mandatory for small claims under £10,000. Our litigation specialists are masters of ADR and regularly help clients navigate mediation in England & Wales.
This article uses the case of Sandra Blower v GH Canfields LLP to illustrate how judges in England and Wales reach decisions in civil litigation. Mrs. Blower alleged that Canfields, a London law firm, gave her inadequate advice regarding a settlement during her husband’s bankruptcy proceedings, where he faced liabilities exceeding £2 million. During a mediation session, Mr. Blower and the firm’s solicitor negotiated a £1.5 million settlement. However, Mr. Blower later attempted to back out of this agreement. The judge ruled in favour of the law firm. The judgment demonstrates the importance of evidence and legal precedent in the English legal system, as well as the weight judges give to the conduct and arguments of the parties.
HMRC’s use of Account Freezing Orders has risen 170% over the past 3 years. An AFO allows HMRC to quickly freeze funds in accounts suspected of criminal activity for up to two years. The number of AFOs, easily obtained by HMRC, has surged from 125 in 2022 to 341 in 2024, with the value of frozen assets rising massively. AFOs pose catastrophic risks for innocent businesses caught up in HMRC’s net.
Businesses in London, UK are being targeted by a debt collection invoice scam email claiming to be from Lexlaw Solicitors (lexlaw.co.uk). These emails are FAKE. Spot the red flags and avoid falling victim to this invoice scam.
In addressing the challenge of stalled litigation, the Civil Procedure Rules provide an extensive legal framework designed to facilitate swift and just resolution of cases. Central to this framework is the overriding objective of the CPR, which mandates that cases should be handled justly and at proportionate cost.
We successfully represented a client in a significant cryptocurrency loan dispute. On 2 July 2024, the High Court handed down a judgment varying the valuation date for assessing damages in lieu of specific performance. Initially, the County Court had set the valuation date at the breach in 2019, which did not account for the significant increase in Ethereum’s value.
A litigation funding report for the Legal Services Board evaluates UK litigation funding. It finds such funding can improve access to justice, facilitate consumer interest cases, and support a healthy legal market. However, it identifies the problems of highly limited, highly selective funding, potential cost tensions, and the need for robust AML controls.
An Account Freezing Order (AFO) is a UK court order that restricts access to funds in bank accounts suspected of involvement in criminal activity. Certain organisations such as the NCA, SFO or HMRC must show reasonable suspicion that the money is linked to criminal activity. They can apply for an AFO at a Magistrates’ Court. These orders, lasting up to two years, freeze the account, preventing any transactions without court approval. To protect their legal rights and assets, businesses and individuals facing an AFO can challenge or seek variation through legal representation.
Unregulated bridging loans are a short-term financing solution often used by UK property owners. Whether for swift property purchases, renovation projects, or addressing unexpected business costs, bridging finance can provide quick access to capital. However this is at significant cost and risk which some borrowers don’t understand. You must carefully consider the risks associated bridge loans. Seeking professional advice is crucial.
Payoneer, an Israeli electronic money institution, has de-banked and frozen customer funds without explanation, thereby preventing tens of millions of charity funds being raised via online advertising for humanitarian aid – some of which may have gone to help refugees in Gaza. Payoneer’s customer is left having to launch litigation in England to recover its money.