Latest by Chris Ross
"Train of inquiry" documents: Court makes rare and exceptional order for Model E Disclosure under disclosure pilot
In a recent interim decision in the re-trial of Ras Al Khaimah Investment Authority v Azima [2022] EWHC 1295 (Ch), the Court has made a rare order for Model E Disclosure under PD 51U. The Model was applied to one issue only, which the Judge considered a "core critical issue" in dispute.
Read moreMarex Strikes Again: Giles v Rhind exception to rule against reflective loss is "dead for all intents and purposes"
Despite it being almost two years since the Supreme Court judgment in Marex Financial Ltd v Sevilleja [2020] UKSC 31 considered the principle of reflective loss, the courts continue to grapple with its impacts and effects in relation to existing cases, many of which were stayed pending the appeal.
Read morePrivy Council decides that banks owe no Quincecare duty to a beneficial owner of monies in an account
A bank does not owe the beneficial owner of account monies any duty of care in negligence, including any Quincecare duty: this was the conclusion of the Privy Council in the Isle of Man case Royal Bank of Scotland International Ltd v JP SPC4 and another. The appeal concerned a fraud where the account holder had defrauded the beneficial owner of the monies, an investment fund, by paying funds out of the relevant bank accounts in contravention of a legitimate investment scheme.
Read moreCourt of Appeal upholds the CAT's opt-out certification in Le Patourel v BT
Last week, the Court of Appeal delivered its judgment in Le Patourel v BT Group. BT's appeal against the Competition Appeal Tribunal's decision to grant a collective proceedings order (CPO) on an opt-out* basis was unsuccessful. In a claimant-friendly ruling, the Court of Appeal held that the CAT's opt-out determination was correct and that direct account crediting at distribution stage would be permissible.
Read moreCompeting opt-out claims refused certification in CAT's FX decision
Since the first opt-out certification last summer in Merricks, a steady stream of collective claims has been certified by the CAT. There have now been four opt-out certifications with many more applications in the wings. Last week's FX decision is the CAT's first certification refusal following Merricks.
Read moreRelying on the Defence to plead a new, time-barred claim – Court of Appeal provides clarity
The Court of Appeal has provided clarity on a claimant's ability to bring an otherwise time-barred claim in reliance on facts raised in the Defence. In the recent case of Mulalley & Co. Ltd v Martlet Homes Ltd [2022] EWCA Civ 32 the claimant was permitted to introduce a new claim, post-limitation, in response to what was potentially a full defence to the original Particulars of Claim.
Read moreESG claims in the banking and financial markets Sector: will "greenwashing" claims soon be common in the UK?
Environmental, Social and Governance "ESG" funds are an attractive avenue for investors seeking responsible investment choices.
Read moreESG claims in the banking and financial markets Sector: will "greenwashing" claims soon be common in the UK?
Environmental, Social and Governance "ESG" funds are an attractive avenue for investors seeking responsible investment choices.
Read moreHide and Seek: Limitation Periods in Competition Law Damages Claims
The recent judgment in Gemalto v Infineon and Renesas put back into focus the duty of potential claimants in competition damages claims to reasonably investigate potential claims against cartelists when relevant facts emerge.
Read moreExceptional Circumstances: CPR 52.30 and a lesson on drafting grounds of appeal from the Court of Appeal
The Court of Appeal has given guidance on how to draft grounds of appeal in a rap over the knuckles for lawyers responsible for "over-lengthy and ill-focused" grounds (Municipio de Mariana v (1) BHP Group PLC and (2) BHP Group Ltd(i)).
Read moreNeed for reasonable enquiries upon receipt of potentially confidential information
The Court of Appeal recently held that a recipient of information will be bound by a duty of confidentiality if it was reasonable for them to have made enquiries as to the confidential nature of the information and they failed to do so (Travel Counsellors Ltd v Trailfinders Ltd [2021] EWCA Civ 38).
Read moreNeed for reasonable enquiries upon receipt of potentially confidential information
The Court of Appeal recently held that a recipient of information will be bound by a duty of confidentiality if it was reasonable for them to have made enquiries as to the confidential nature of the information and they failed to do so (Travel Counsellors Ltd v Trailfinders Ltd [2021] EWCA Civ 38).
Read moreSecurity for costs not ordered despite looming economic downturn caused by COVID-19
Evidence of the adverse impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the Claimant's financial position was not enough to show an inability to pay adverse costs in a recent application for security for costs in the High Court in International Pipeline Products Limited v IK UK Ltd & Ors. [2020] EWHC 1602
Read morePrivy Council gives a lesson on the remoteness of damage in contract law within a judgment on damages for breach of separate but related contracts
Where parties have entered into separate but related contracts, breach of one contract does not necessarily preclude the recovery of damages under another.
Read moreHigh Court: Claimants' litigation funder ordered to provide security for costs
The High Court has handed down a significant judgment giving important guidance on the Court’s approach to issues of costs-sharing and security for costs against litigation funders in large multi-party claims. The judgment will be a key touchpoint in this developing area of law. RPC acts for Ingenious in the proceedings. The judgment citation is [2020] EWHC 235 (Ch).
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Tortious claims against third party may trigger anti-suit injunction
A party's attempt to circumvent a jurisdiction clause by bringing tortious claims against a third party has been thwarted by the High Court. In granting an anti-suit injunction, the court explored the substance of the claims and found them to be "vexatious and oppressive", designed simply to evade the exclusive jurisdiction clause.
Read moreThe High Court removes its cap for litigation funders
The High Court has declined to cap a litigation funder's liability for adverse costs at the amount of funding provided. It confirmed that the so-called Arkin cap is an approach to be considered, not a rule to be followed (Davey v Money [2019] EWHC 997 (Ch)).
Read moreOn the eleventh day of Christmas, the High Court gave to me…eleven groups a-growing
Unlike Scrooge, litigation will not wake transformed on Christmas Day into a gentler, kinder activity. But it is undergoing a slower transformation with the growth of various forms of group litigation in England.
Read moreCourt of Appeal clarifies meaning of 'knowledge' for purposes of Limitation Act
In Su v Clarksons Platou Futures Ltd ([2018] EWCA Civ 1115) the Court of Appeal upheld a decision granting summary judgment against a claimant on the basis that his claim in negligence was time barred.
Read moreUnlawful distribution of shareholding: application of Limitation Act clarified
In Burden Holdings UK Limited v Fielding the Supreme Court considered the application of Section 21(1)(b) of the Limitation Act 1980 with respect to claims against the directors of a company for an unlawful distribution of the shareholding.
Read moreDefective service and culpable delay: a warning to claimants
Commercial Court refuses application for alternative service and strikes out claim forms after claimant's delay in pursuing claim.
Read moreHigh Court allows claim against foreign subsidiary and English parent company to be heard in the UK
The High Court has rejected applications by an English parent company and its Zambian subsidiary that claims brought against them in London should be dismissed in favour of proceedings taking place in Zambia.
Read moreSupreme Court clarifies law on implied terms
The Supreme Court has clarified the law on implied terms: in order for a term to be implied it must be necessary for business efficacy or alternatively be so obvious as to go without saying.
Read moreSupreme Court clarifies law on implied terms: "business efficacy" test remains
The Supreme Court has clarified the law on implied terms: in order for a term to be implied it must be necessary for business efficacy or alternatively be so obvious as to go without saying. In practice, it will be a rare case where one of those conditions is satisfied but not the other.
Read moreCourt of Appeal rules on limitation and concealment in competition damages claim
In the recent decision of Arcadia Group Brands Ltd & Ors v Visa Inc & Ors[1] ...
Read moreThe claimants that knew too much: High Court rules on applicability of concealment provisions in Limitation Act 1980 in competition damages claim
The Arcadia Group[1] case arose in the context of ongoing damages claims brought by a number of retailers and other merchants against both Visa and MasterCard for breaches of competition law in relation to the charging of interchange fees in the Visa and MasterCard payment systems.
Read moreThe importance of commercial considerations in contractual construction
The principles governing contractual interpretation under English law are reasonably well-established.
Read moreCourt shuts door on challenge to arbitral tribunal's findings
Applicants cannot use s.68 of the Arbitration Act to challenge indirectly the tribunal's finding of fact when they don’t like the decision made.
Read moreCommercial Court confirms principles relating to law governing arbitration agreements
The case of Habas Sinai v VSC Steel Company[1] reinforces the importance of providing for a governing law in contracts, particularly if the parties want an arbitration agreement to be governed by a different law from the law of the seat of the arbitration.
Read moreFinancial Litigation Roundup
Please click here for our bulletin containing a roundup of the key judgments from litigation in the banking sector in 2012/2013 and review of matters currently before the courts.
Read moreISDA publishes 2013 Arbitration Guide
ISDA (the International Swaps and Derivatives Association) has published the 2013 ISDA Arbitration Guide, ...
Read moreThe English court's power to grant anti-suit injunctions in support of arbitration
The Supreme Court judgment in Ust-Kamenogorsk Hydropower Plant JSC v AES Ust-Kamenogorsk Hydropower Plant LLP [2013] ...
Read moreLIBOR manipulation claim stumbles
In Deutsche Bank AG v Unitech Global Limited 2013 EWHC 471 (Comm) Cooke J refused permission for the defendants to amend their defence and counterclaim to refer to misrepresentations relating to the alleged manipulation of LIBOR by Deutsche Bank, on the basis that the amended claims had no reasonable prospect of success.
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