Law and the Justice System

The Commercial Court and COMBAR are looking at ways to ensure that junior advocates can get more time on their feet, encouraging solicitors and clients to consider their use on discrete issues.

National Crime Agency officers, working as part of the Paramilitary Crime Task Force (PCTF), have seized a number of properties in Northern Ireland following a proceeds of crime investigation.

https://nationalcrimeagency.gov.uk/news/pctf-seize-ni-properties-under-proceeds-of-crime-act

This festive season 2020, the City of London Police and the Cheapside Business Alliance are inviting you to bring a little more Christmas cheer into the lives of children across the City with the launch of the City of London Police Charity for Children Christmas Appeal.

https://colp.mpw.cds.co.uk/news/city-of-london/news/2020/november/press-releases/city-of-london-police-charity-for-children-christmas-appeal/

The County Court Money Claims Centre (CCMCC) issued a default judgment “without any judicial input” ordering a local authority to pay £10.5m, it has emerged.

https://www.litigationfutures.com/news/county-court-money-claims-centre-issued-judgment-for-10-5m

The Law Society and Bar Council have welcomed Chancellor Rishi Sunak’s £1.6bn injection into the justice system but warned that it cannot be a one-off.

https://www.legalfutures.co.uk/latest-news/profession-welcomes-sunaks-justice-system-cash-injection

The UK Serious Fraud Office (SFO) recently published a new chapter in its internal Operational Handbook, which provides guidance on the SFO's approach to Deferred Prosecution Agreements (DPAs) (the Guidance). The SFO's Director, Lisa Osofsky, remarked, "Over the past six years, we at the SFO have been developing our approach to negotiating and entering into DPAs, and in turn, establishing best practice. Publishing this guidance will provide further transparency on what we expect from companies looking to co-operate with us."

The High Court has delivered a judgment dealing with the issue of fraud and interrogatories.

Up to two-thirds of civil hearings will take place face-to-face over the coming months as the caseload increases, with longer operating hours an option for courts if needed.

https://www.litigationfutures.com/news/civil-court-recovery-more-in-person-hearings-and-longer-hours

Corporate criminal liability laws will come under fresh scrutiny as a Law Commission review begins this week.

More than three and a half years after its Call for Evidence on reforming corporate liability for economic crime, the UK government has published its response