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Supreme Court hurts employers on vicarious liability

Published on 07 Mar 2016.

Cox v Ministry of Justice (2016) and AM Mohamud v WM Morrison Supermarkets plc (2016)

Clarifying block notification feels ripples

Published on 03 Mar 2016.

Judgment in this case was handed down at the beginning of February 2016.

The Insurance Act – what are the five biggest changes to the current law?

Published on 01 Mar 2016.

James Wickes – a partner in our Insurance Group – tells us why it's very much in vogue to be an insurance lawyer these days.

Health and safety law update

Published on 01 Mar 2016.

HSE to prosecute Merlin Attractions Operation Ltd over Alton Towers “Smiler” incident

Take priority but be reasonable

Published on 17 Feb 2016.

On 20 January 2016, Mr Justice Edwards-Stuart handed down his judgment on preliminary issues in Commercial Management (Investments) Limited v (1) Mitchell Design and Construct Limited, and (2) Regorco Limited1

Adjudication - RMP Construction Services Ltd v Chalcroft Ltd

Published on 04 Feb 2016.

On 21 December 2015, Stuart-Smith J handed down his decision in RMP Construction Services Ltd v Chalcroft Ltd1 , an action for summary judgment in the Technology and Construction Court to enforce an Adjudicator’s decision.

Do receivers owe duties to bankrupt mortgagors?

Published on 27 Jan 2016.

The Court of Appeal has recently considered whether an LPA Receiver owes a duty of care to a bankrupt mortgagor in connection with the way the Receiver deals with the mortgaged property. In a decision which will be welcomed by Receivers and their insurers, the court decided that a Receiver owes no such duties.

UK flooding: the aftermath

Published on 26 Jan 2016.

As the flood waters subside and residents, businesses, insurers and public bodies survey the damage and pick up the pieces, thoughts will turn to what, if anything, could have been done differently to have prevented or minimised the damage caused.

Love thy neighbour but don't give them any advice!

Published on 22 Jan 2016.

The first TCC judgment of the year, Burgess & Burgess vs Lejonvarn [2016] EWHC 40 (TCC), is of particular interest to both architects and their insurers, as it discusses and distinguishes between a contractual relationship and one that gives rise to an assumption of responsibility in tort.

Annual Insurance Review 2015

Published on 08 Jan 2016.

There are no prizes for guessing the likely main insurance law event of 2016. The Insurance Act 2015 will come into force on 12 August 2016.

Cyber fraud - a new hope?

Published on 23 Nov 2015.

We have previously warned of the threat posed by fraudsters who are targeting solicitors’ client accounts to misappropriate funds (read our blog last February here).

New sentencing guideline for health and safety offences

Published on 13 Nov 2015.

In November 2014, the Sentencing Council began consulting on a draft guideline for health and safety offences, corporate manslaughter, and breach of food safety and hygiene regulations.

Is time up for claims against valuers?

Published on 29 Sep 2015.

Assessing the point at which a cause of action accrues in a claim against a valuer is a difficult task, not least because of the lack of judicial guidance on the issue.

General liability update

Published on 28 Sep 2015.

Defending a claim for breach of Occupiers’ duty – A bridge too far?

Insurance Act 2015

Published on 23 Sep 2015.

Amendment to include Law Commission’s proposals on damages for late payment of claims

VW emissions rigging scandal- Insurance exposure

Published on 23 Sep 2015.

Insurance exposures

Tianjin explosions leave insurers exposed to claims

Published on 21 Aug 2015.

On 12 August 2015, multiple explosions occurred in the Chinese city of Tianjin, a major industrial port and goods gateway to Beijing.

Play nicely, children

Published on 17 Jul 2015.

Litigation is, by its very nature, an adversarial process. But as the court has made clear in the case of Simon Gotch & Susan Linda Gotch v Enelco Limited , litigants should also co-operate, to ensure the swift and cost-effective resolution of their disputes.

Milton Furniture and Brit- clarifying attendance

Published on 13 Jul 2015.

Milton Furniture Limited v Brit Insurance

Getting to Level 2

Published on 03 Jun 2015.

What insurers should look out for in BIM project management

Flood Re and the impact on surveyors and valuers

Published on 02 Jun 2015.

The catastrophic impact that flooding can have on property owners has been seen all over the news for the past decade. In particular, 2012 saw some of the wettest weather for a century and left thousands of households struggling to find insurance cover for their properties.

Products update

Published on 27 May 2015.

News

Beyond night and day: Importance of causation

Published on 27 May 2015.

In order to succeed in a claim for professional negligence, a claimant must establish that the professional owed him a relevant duty of care, that they breached that duty and that the breach caused the loss he seeks to recover.

Mesothelioma recoveries

Published on 26 May 2015.

Balancing the anomalies

Financial Services: Minimising Risk in a Dawn of Opportunity

Published on 12 Nov 2014. By Simon Laird, Global Head of Insurance

Over the last few years, firms have been asking themselves how they will make money in the post RDR world.

Rise with RPC

FIG – The inclusive insurance network

Good reason or not? Court of Appeal clarifies rule on non-party access to court documents

Published on 28 Jan 2025. By Ana Margetts, Associate (New Zealand qualified) and Jake Hardy, Partner

The Court of Appeal has confirmed that a non-party does not have a right of access to documents on the court record by default (Derek Moss v The Upper Tribunal). Rather, the non-party must articulate a "good reason" for wishing to obtain the documents, by reference to the principle of open justice, explained in this blog.

Protecting commercial secrets: High Court allows redaction of documents for non-party access under CPR 5.4C

Published on 28 Jan 2025. By Camila Arias Buritica, Associate and Jake Hardy, Partner

In WH Holding Ltd v E20 Stadium LLP [2024] EWHC 817 (Comm), the High Court examined the rights of non-parties to obtain copies of statements of case under CPR 5.4C. It decided that the appropriate balance between the interests of individuals and the public interest in the maintenance of open justice could be struck by the redaction of the monetary sums from the claim form should a non-party obtain a copy of the statement of case.

ISDA Master Agreements

Published on 13 Jan 2025. By Jake Hardy, Partner and Simon Hart, Partner, Head of Commercial Disputes

Banking litigation partners Simon Hart and Jake Hardy discuss the world of ISDA Master Agreements, close out mechanics and a rather opaque investment bank wheeze involving counter hedging strategies, which counterparties miss at their financial peril.

Exclusive means exclusive: High Court decides that English courts have jurisdiction in Italian swaps dispute

Published on 03 Dec 2024. By Simon Hart, Partner, Head of Commercial Disputes and Tim Potts, Senior Associate

High Court implies contractual terms following LIBOR cessation

Published on 20 Nov 2024. By Daniel Hemming, Partner and Gill O'Regan, Senior Associate

The High Court has implied a term into a contract to the effect that where the contract specifies a calculation should be carried out by reference to LIBOR, where LIBOR is no longer published a reasonable alternative should be used.

D'Aloia – High Noon for Crypto-Tracing

Published on 17 Oct 2024. By Dan Wyatt, Partner and Christopher Whitehouse, Senior Associate

The High Court judgment in D'Aloia v. Persons Unknown and others [2024] EWHC 2342 (Ch) is arguably the most significant crypto judgment of 2024. Critical deficiencies in the claimant's blockchain tracing analysis, evidence presented at trial and pleadings were ultimately fatal to his claims seeking to recover assets misappropriated by fraudsters.

Myth busting and moving the dial in DEI

Published on 20 Aug 2024. By Kelly Thomson, Partner, ESG Strategy Lead and Rachel Pears, Head of Responsible Business and Katie Horn, DEIB and Responsible Business Manager (Market Facing)

This article is a summary of a session delivered by Kelly Thomson (Partner, Employment, Engagement & Equality and ESG Strategy Lead at RPC) and Rachel Pears (Head of Responsible Business at RPC), at the second Annual D&I Conference, in partnership with the British Retail Consortium (BRC). During this particular session, common myths and misconceptions surrounding Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI) were discussed and different sides of various issues were dissected, drawing out the nuances of seemingly polarised positional statements. Below, we address a handful of these myths, offering a balanced perspective on the complexities of DEI and exploring how to drive meaningful progress in our organisations.

Banking and Financial Markets Litigation Update - Summer 2024

Published on 29 Jul 2024. By Carolin Ayres, Associate and Jonathan Cary, Partner and Jessica Davies, Associate and Olivia Dhein, Knowledge Lawyer and Jake Hardy, Partner and Simon Hart, Partner, Head of Commercial Disputes and Charlotte Henschen (née Ducker), Partner and Tom Hibbert, Partner and Tim Potts, Senior Associate and Chris Ross, Partner and Christopher Wheatley , Senior Associate and Alan Williams, Partner

This update is brought to you by RPC’s top tier banking and financial markets disputes practice in London, with specialists in all areas of financial markets litigation (and arbitration) and a wealth of expertise including frequent involvement in the most complex, high-value, and high-profile disputes in the sphere. Here, we take a look at some of the most important judgments in recent months.

CAT Collective Proceedings - Summer 2024 update

Published on 24 Jul 2024. By Chris Ross, Partner and David Cran, Partner, Head of IP & Tech and Zoe Mernick-Levene, Partner

Developments in the UK’s competition collective proceedings regime continue apace with new claims recently issued in the Competition Appeal Tribunal (CAT).

No objection: When is a party barred from challenging jurisdiction where it continues in the arbitration?

Published on 22 Jul 2024. By Tatiana Minaeva, Partner and Head of Investor-State Arbitration and Fred Kuchlin, Senior Associate

The High Court has provided invaluable guidance on the factors that it will consider when determining when a party is barred from challenging jurisdiction under s. 67 of the Arbitration Act 1996 (the Act) by failing to raise an objection while continuing to take part in the arbitration.

Employer lessons from teacher's menopause bias win

Published on 17 Jul 2024. By Kelly Thomson, Partner, ESG Strategy Lead and Ellie Gelder, Senior Editor Employment & Equality

On May 31, a Scottish employment tribunal made its decision in Allison Shearer v. South Lanarkshire Council and awarded a teacher over £60,000 ($77,829) for disability discrimination and unfair dismissal, following her dismissal for ill health after a period of long¬term sickness absence.

Crypto damages quantification: valuation at the date of breach or date of judgment?

Published on 10 Jul 2024. By Dan Wyatt, Partner and Christopher Whitehouse, Senior Associate

In Southgate v. Graham [2024] EWHC 1692 (Ch), the High Court addressed an appeal from the County Court concerning inter alia the appropriate date for assessing damages in a cryptocurrency loan dispute. Initially, the County Court determined that the damages should be based on the cryptocurrency's fiat value at the breach date. Due to the volatility of the cryptocurrency, this decision would have resulted in significantly lower fiat damages award than if the valuation were based on a later date. The High Court allowed the valuation date part of the appeal, directing a further hearing to establish the appropriate date.

New digital markets regime guidance published for consultation

Published on 28 Jun 2024. By Tom McQuail, Partner and David Cran, Partner, Head of IP & Tech and Melanie Musgrave, Of Counsel and Ben Powell, Associate

The Digital Markets, Competition and Consumers Act 2024 received Royal Assent on 24 May 2024. This article considers who will be impacted by the new digital markets regime, the requirements it will introduce, and how it may be enforced, and summarises the CMA’s new draft guidance under consultation on how it intends to implement the regime in practice.

The Digital Markets, Competition and Consumers Act – the Competition Perspective

Published on 28 Jun 2024. By Tom McQuail, Partner and Chris Ross, Partner and Melanie Musgrave, Of Counsel

This article considers the key changes to general competition law under the Digital Markets, Competition and Consumers Act which received Royal Assent on 24 May 2024 and is expected to enter into force in the Autumn.

Recent CAT rulings consider distribution concerns

Published on 13 Jun 2024. By Chris Ross, Partner and William Carter, Senior Associate

With two collective settlements now approved by the UK's Competition Appeal Tribunal (CAT) and the outcome of the first substantive trial in the case of Le Patourel v BT anticipated shortly, it is an important time for the competition collective proceedings regime as the first sums start to be paid out to affected classes.

Summary judgment against persons unknown – a tale of two crypto judgments

Published on 09 May 2024. By Dan Wyatt, Partner and Christopher Whitehouse, Senior Associate

Two recent crypto judgements in the High Court, Mooij v Persons Unknown (February 2024) and Boonyaem v Persons Unknown (December 2023) reached different conclusions regarding whether a summary judgment could be granted against unidentified (and unidentifiable) fraudsters, with Mooji deciding 'yes' and Boonyaem deciding 'no'.

UK CAT Collective Proceedings Spring 2024 Update

Published on 30 Apr 2024. By David Cran, Partner, Head of IP & Tech and Chris Ross, Partner

Last year, we reported on what was then a fledgling collective proceedings regime in the UK’s Competition Appeal Tribunal (CAT). Our 2023 update is here. Since then, the competition collective proceedings regime has continued to grow at pace, notwithstanding the seismic Supreme Court decision in PACCAR affecting the underlying funding arrangements which underpin the entire collective proceedings landscape.

Supreme Court confirms no knowing receipt claim where equitable interest is destroyed: Byers v Saudi National Bank

Published on 17 Apr 2024. By Jake Hardy, Partner and Ana Margetts, Associate (New Zealand qualified)

In Byers v Saudi National Bank, the Supreme Court affirmed the findings of the lower courts by holding that a claim for knowing receipt cannot be made if a claimant’s equitable interest in the property in question has been extinguished by the time of the defendant’s knowing receipt of the property.

CRE funds – targets for future litigation

Published on 20 Mar 2024. By Jake Hardy, Partner and Tom Hibbert, Partner

There was a wave of negative press about commercial real estate funds during the course of 2023. The higher interest rate environment and the pandemic’s economic and social legacy has stressed the sector. This was reflected in suspensions of redemptions by funds including BlackRock UK Property Fund and Blackstone’s (US) Blackstone Real Estate Income Trust, and the closure of the M&G Property Portfolio fund. Asset valuation concerns are leading to many CRE funds trading at a significant discount to their net asset value. Shortsellers are circling – see for instance, Muddy Waters’ disclosure of a large short position on the Blackstone Mortgage Trust.