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The future of the NHS: Concerns and comparisons
New poll suggests greater concerns over cuts to NHS funding than terrorism threat.
Read moreUsing data to bring innovative products to the market … and keep them there
There are now more and more opportunities to collect and use health data to innovate, improve efficiency and improve care. The same data could prove very useful in responding to the threat of litigation too
Read moreBawa-Garba case exposes shortcomings in management of medical errors
Urgent government review of medical malpractice underway following conviction of Dr Bawa-Garba and the management of medical mistakes.
Read moreCould Cannabis be the Cure?
With the upsetting case of Alfie Dingley dominating news headlines, the UK Government is being asked to reconsider its approach to medicinal cannabis. But what would this mean for manufacturers, healthcare professionals, and, most importantly, potential patients?
Read moreAn aspirin a day…
Discusses research that suggests aspirin can reduce risk of colon cancer in patients with Lynch Syndrome
Read moreFixed Recoverable Costs: When lawyers come 'cap' in hand
Working group developing a cap on recoverable costs for lawyers in clinical negligence claims
Read moreA game changer for concussion injuries? New study investigating CTE creates a potential headache for defendants and their insurers
A new study shows that repeated hits to the head, not concussions, cause chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE), the neurodegenerative disease experienced by American football players, boxers and other athletes.
Read moreBrexit chess game to be played out at Chequers
The Life Sciences industry demands certainty over the Government's approach to regulation after Brexit. It is hoped that Government meetings this month will achieve that.
Read moreMr Justice Langstaff to chair contaminated blood inquiry
Mr Justice Langstaff will lead the public inquiry into how contaminated blood transfusions infected thousands of people with HIV and hepatitis C in the 1970s and 80s
Read moreMonkey See, Monkey Do
Implications for humans and animals of the recent successful cloning of monkeys by Chinese researchers
Read moreDuty calls: What information should be provided to patients following treatment?
Summary of the High Court's recent decision in a case concerning the duty to inform a patient of treatment outcomes and the requirement for follow-up, further treatment, or monitoring.
Read moreOrgan donation: have your say
Organ donation is, for some, a difficult topic of conversation, but a Government consultation is encouraging us to think about it and share our views.
Read moreNew Year, New You? How about joining the virtual reality gym…
Looking to beat the January gym rush? Well, look no further than American based firm Black Box VR who have combined gaming and gyming to create a virtual reality workout using just a resistance machine and headset.
Read moreRoll up your sleeve – CJEU injects some influence in to vaccination case
Summary of Court of Justice of the European Union (CJEU) decision in vaccination case
Read moreMaking made to measure medicine: tailored to suit
Summary of key points emerging from MHRA guidance on the importance of human factors in the development of new medical devices.
Read moreIndependent inquiry launched into malpractice of Ian Paterson
The Department of Health has announced the launch of an independent inquiry into the circumstances and practices surrounding the activity of convicted breast surgeon Ian Paterson.
Read moreEngagement news
Manufacturers and insurers may have missed Prince Harry's news on Monday in the general excitement surrounding the Government's Industrial Strategy, announced on the same day.
Read moreBereavement Damages incompatible with European Convention on Human Rights
Consideration of the Court of Appeal decision in Smith v Lancashire Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation and others that restriction on awards for bereavement damages under the Fatal Accidents Act 1976 are incompatible with the European Convention on Human Rights.
Read moreA Shift in Vicarious Liability (Armes v Nottinghamshire County Council)
Armes v Nottinghamshire County Council [2017] UKSC 60. A review of recent case law extending Vicarious Liability and the impact this will have on organisations and their insurers.
Read moreMedical device concerns and MHRA compliance
Increase in medical devices regulatory alerts and how to respond to concerns
Read moreLandmark ruling on end of life care
Huntington's patient: Court rules Court application no longer necessary in end of life care where patient's family and doctors are in agreement
Read moreThe costs of surrogacy: a valid and separate head of claim
A claimant has been awarded £74,000 for the costs of a surrogacy arrangement, following a hospital's delay in diagnosing cervical cancer.
Read moreWelcoming new red tape
The Medical Devices Regulation 2017 is good news for insurers in the life sciences sector. More data on safety and performance will be collected on products before they get to the market
Read more"Please sir, may I have some more [damages for failure to consent]?" No, says the Court of Appeal.
Shaw v Kovac: Court of Appeal rejects claim for an additional, separate award of damages for failure to obtain informed consent.
Read moreSRA consults the legal sector on proposed changes to their fining framework
The SRA is conducting a consultation from the 28 June to 20 September 2024 on their proposed changes to the SRA Fining Guidance. The regulator is seeking feedback in response to the new unlimited fining powers granted under the Economic Crime and Corporate Transparency Act (ECCTA 2023).
Read moreFixing up the rules: changes to the fixed recoverable costs regime coming soon to a White Book near you!
Practitioners are eagerly awaiting the first decisions to see how the Court deals with tricky issues such as the effect of the transitional provisions and assignment of a complexity band. In the meantime, the Civil Procedure Rules Committee and the Ministry of Justice have been busy refining the rules and the 163rd update to the Civil Procedure Rules has been published. We've read it all so that you don't have to and explain below what's new in the world of FRC.
Read moreVehicle finance – FOS driving review forward, but is anyone behind the wheel?
In this article, David Allinson, Partner at RPC, has teamed up with Alex Barry, Claims Director at Collegiate Management Services Ltd, to consider a recent Financial Ombudsman Service decision concerning discretionary commission arrangements and vehicle finance loans. FOS has now published a small number of Final Decisions on this topic, which have been picked up by Martin Lewis (MoneySavingExpert.com) and the FCA, and could have wide-ranging consequences for a number of different professions and their insurers.
Read moreSevere consequences: severance of success fee provisions in a CFA not allowed
In Diag Human v Volterra Fietta [2023] EWCA Civ 1107 , the Court of Appeal held that a firm of solicitors that had entered into an unenforceable conditional fee agreement (CFA) could not obtain payment by severing the offending terms of the agreement and nor was payment on a quantum meruit basis permitted for public policy reasons. The consequence of this was that their clients were entitled to the return of sums paid on account.
Read moreNavigating professional risks and opportunities facing the legal profession in an ever-changing legal and commercial landscape
The legal profession is undergoing significant changes, driven by a range of challenges and opportunities. In recent years, the legal landscape has experienced a period of transformation, marked by unforeseen challenges and emerging horizons. This transformation has been propelled by factors such as the COVID-19 pandemic, evolving regulations, the increasing prominence of environmental, social, and governance (ESG) issues, and the growing role of artificial intelligence (AI). In this article, we examine the risks that lawyers face due to these factors, including the Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA) focus on addressing toxic workplaces and sexual misconduct, cultural shifts, and the implications of AI.
Read moreKey considerations crime and D&O insurers cannot a-fraud to ignore
The UK government is committed to reforming corporate criminal liability and making it "quicker and easier" to prosecute companies involved in fraudulent conduct. These reforms will no doubt be welcomed by many where the nature and scale of fraud in the UK has evolved significantly and now constitutes more than 40% of all offences in England and Wales. However, it will inevitably have an impact on insurers, especially the D&O insurance market.
Read moreOverview of the key risks affecting the Professional and Financial Risks market
Last month RPC's Professional and Financial Risks team hosted a panel discussion to address the evolving challenges and responsibilities faced by professional clients in the current economic landscape. Access our document to explore the key insights from the session.
Read moreWhat the fix?! Get up to speed in 10 minutes with our new video
The first video in our new Getting Up To Speed series is now available below.
Read moreSRA fining powers – putting the SDT out of business?
The SRA is on a mission to increase its powers to levy financial penalties. The last 12 months have seen a substantial increase in its fining powers, and a grant of unlimited fining powers in matters relating to financial crime and SLAPPs is imminent. The SRA has now dramatically upped the ante, seeking the power to levy unlimited fines in all cases of serious misconduct. With the Legal Services Board appearing supportive, the proposal has the potential profoundly to affect the enforcement of professional discipline within the profession.
Read moreAFMs receive B+ from the FCA: Good but could do better
In the wake of the FCA's new consumer duty requiring firms to deliver good outcomes for consumers that meet their needs and offer fair value, it comes as no surprise that the FCA has 'followed up' on its July 2021 review.
Read moreDirectors' duties post Sequana – a differentiating factor?
As expected, the scope of directors' duties whilst a company is in financial difficulties has been the source of further consideration by the Court. The recent case of Hunt v Singh [2023] EWHC 1784 raised the question as to whether, following the Supreme Court decision in BTI 2014 LLC v Sequana SA, a director's duty to take into account the interests of creditors arises where the company is at the relevant time insolvent if a disputed liability comes to fruition. In Hunt, the disputed liability was to HMRC where the directors (wrongly, as it later turned out) believed that the tax scheme they were involved in worked.
Read moreEnhanced Regulatory Supervision of Asset Managers in Europe – Greenwashing Risks
A common methodology has been developed by ESMA to allow national European regulators to share knowledge and experiences to facilitate convergence in how they supervise sustainability related disclosures.
Read moreThe Building Safety Act 2022: a guide for conveyancers
We explain below how the BSA is intended to protect leaseholders, what steps solicitors can take to ensure purchasers and lenders are protected and what to do if that protection cannot be obtained.
Read moreDuties to third party investors in tax avoidance schemes following McClean
We analyse the Court of Appeal's recent decision in David McLean and others v Andrew Thornhill KC in which the court considered the circumstances in which duties are owed to non-clients in the context of legal advice made available to investors in tax schemes.
Read moreWhat the fix?!
Fixed recoverable costs in professional negligence claims: new rules applicable from 1 October 2023
Read moreWasted costs – some comfort for legal professionals
In its recent judgment in Anthony King and others v Barry Stiefel and others the Commercial Court has considered the circumstances in which wasted costs orders can be made against the legal representatives of a defeated party to a claim. The court dismissed the applications saying that wasted costs applications should only be made in respect of straightforward applications which can be dealt with summarily.
Read moreCosts recovered in the Small Claims Track from an unreasonable Litigant in Person
Most (if not all) litigators will be familiar with the challenge of being on the other side of a claim brought by a litigant in person ("LiP"). The courts expect practitioners to be sensitive to their opponent's lack of legal expertise and familiarity with court rules, but judges have also been clear that they expect all parties – including LiPs – to follow the rules regardless of their legal representation.
Read moreSRA issues Warning Notice on solicitors' involvement in SLAPPs
SLAPPs (aka 'Strategic Lawsuits Against Public Participation') is a term coined in the USA. They are becoming the object of increasing concern over here too.
Read moreInvest in due diligence for dubious schemes (Part 2)
With suspicious activity on the rise, the SRA remind firms of their anti-money laundering obligations.
Read moreImportant changes to Legal Ombudsman Scheme Rules from 1 April 2023
On 28 October 2022, LeO confirmed it will be implementing significant changes to its Scheme Rules, coming into effect on 1 April 2023
Read moreBelsner v CAM Legal Services Ltd and claiming the shortfall from your client
Belsner v CAM Legal Services Ltd [2020] EWHC 2755 (QB) held that a lawyer must make sufficient disclosure so that their client can provide informed consent when it comes to recovering any shortfall in costs from them.
Read moreHong Kong – Claim pleading duty of care against auditor struck out for "putting the cart before the horse"
In Chan Kam Cheung v Ronnie K W Choi & Anor [2022] HKCFI 3028, a judge upheld a master's (judicial officer's) decision to strike out the plaintiff shareholder's action against the former auditors of the company.
Read moreSolicitors Entitled to Insurance Cover for Liability for Fees: Royal Sun Alliance Insurance Limited & Others v Tughans (a firm)
In a recent judgment, Foxton J held that a claim for damages against a firm of solicitors for fees which it was contractually entitled to was covered under the firm's professional indemnity insurance. He held that it did not matter if the fees were obtained through the solicitor's fraudulent misrepresentation provided that the solicitor had done what was required under the contract to earn the fees. The decision will not be welcomed by insurers.
Read moreShorter time limit for Third Parties (Rights Against Insurers) Act 2010 claims
A recent judgment has reduced the limitation period for third parties to make direct claims against insurers under the Third Parties (Rights Against Insurers) Act 2010 when compared to claims under the predecessor 1930 Act. The decision will make it easier for insurers to defend such claims on limitation grounds.
Read moreRisky Business: what to do when former clients ask further questions
In Spire Property Development LLP & Anor v Withers LLP [2022] EWCA Civ 970, the Court of Appeal considered the scope of a solicitor's duty when a former client posed questions to a solicitor concerning a transaction after the retainer had ended. The judgment will be of interest to solicitors who are asked for advice in circumstances where no retainer exists.
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