Handling a commercial dispute claim
Hilary Messer, a senior associate and specialist in dispute resolution, discusses ways to prevent a commercial dispute claim from going to court.
The role litigation funders are playing in the UK market
Litigation funding is going from strength to strength in the UK, after Augusta unveiled a £150 million war chest. However, there is an increasing trend for law firms to float, which gives the company the option of tapping its shareholders to fund litigation cases.
Are financial services tribunals levelling the playing field for SMEs?
A proposal launched by MPs in parliament for a brand new tribunal should solve the problems that have beset both SMEs and banks involved in retail banking disputes.
The strengths and weaknesses of a joint takeover bid by PE firms
On 5 June Shawbrook Group received a revised takeover bid of £868m from Marlin Bidco, a company owned by private equity firms BC Partners and Pollen Street Capital Limited. This joint takeover bid was “final and not to be increased”.
Brexit will impact all firms, not just those engaged in exporting
One month in, and you’d be forgiven for already feeling a little Brexit-fatigued; the rolling news, political uncertainty and long-term time frames can seem overwhelming and prompts feelings of apathy.
How your business can fight professional negligence claims
Business owners have to navigate a number of obstacles: the recent court fee increase, for example, imposes upfront costs of £10,000 on a claim of £200,000. Professional negligence claims are particularly difficult to pursue, however, because your opponent – who, as an individual, should theoretically be easier to take on than an organisation – has a habit of changing mid-bout.
The Simpsons star Harry Shearer first contract dispute casualty after stats show litigation rise
Many Simpsons fans are lamenting the potential departure of Harry Shearer, which took the media by full force. This news comes hand-in-hand with litigation figures, suggesting that contract disputes are on the rise.
How to manage litigation costs as an SME
The government has now followed through with its proposal to introduce significant increases in court fees first mooted in January, with the new regime coming into force on 9 March. Fees for claims of between £1 and £10,000 will remain at their present levels with a £455 ceiling, though the cost of issuing cases worth between £10,000 and £200,000 will rise significantly to five per cent of the value of a claim.
Courts, fees, and SMEs: What are your options when litigation is costlier than ever?
Does your business have a legitimate grievance against another company that you need to take to court? If you have £10,000 available to spend on upfront fees and fairly deep pockets, you’re in luck. If not, however, I have some bad news.
Can you fight a business dispute without breaking the bank?
With court fees increasing in April by as much as a staggering 600 per cent, it will now be even more expensive for businesses to settle a dispute in court. Yet Louis Young, managing director of Augusta Ventures, says that businesses can still get justice without breaking the bank.
FTSE 100 banks make up “lion’s share of big company litigation”
Large banks have made up the largest share of all UK High Court FTSE 100 cases this year.
Slips and trips: How to protect yourself from being sued at Christmas
In the run up to Christmas, stores are busier than usual. For retailers, this means they need to be extra vigilant that customers do not slip or trip on their premises. Here is how to protect yourself.