Healys' professional negligence claim specialist, Robert Johnson, looks at Lord Justice Jackson's report of January 2010.
It should be of no surprise to anyone that the traditional method of calculating charges for legal work by reference to hourly rates is becoming increasingly subject to challenge. Hence, Lord Justice Jackson's review into civil litigation costs whose report was published a few weeks ago (14 January 2010). Indeed, there is absolutely no doubt that the current trend in litigation is (and has been for some time) the transfer of cost risks from the claimant client to the claimant's legal advisor/defendant. Hence, the more and more imaginative ways of funding litigation other than through the traditional privately-funded basis, such as CFAs, CFA-lites, discounted fee agreements and contingency arrangements.
Healys is very proud of its reputation as a creative and entrepreneurial law firm. It is a reputation that we are eager to maintain and enhance. Thus, it will be of no surprise to anyone that we offer the full range of funding for litigation work. We act for clients with the benefit of the following products:
- Funding from a third party whether that third party be a benefactor or a professional organisation. We have strong contacts and good relations with a number of the latter.
- Before the event insurance and which we always discuss with the client at the outset to establish whether there is such a policy in existence.
- After the event insurance and which we always consider (in conjunction with the client) whether such a policy is appropriate and/or necessary. Again, we have strong contacts and good relations with a number of after-the-event providers and insurance brokers.
- Conditional fees (CFAs and CFA-lites) and which we currently have in place on behalf of a number of clients to enable us to act for them in claims against solicitors, barristers, architects, property agents and in respect of insolvency matters and commercial disputes. Indeed at any given time CFAs account for approximately 20-25% of the turnover of our litigation department.
- Contingency fees which are only available for cases which are not subject to legal proceedings.
Healys Solicitors for professional negligence claims
Robert Johnson has substantial experience and expertise in professional negligence matters. He is also a member of the Professional Negligence Lawyers' Association and both also have strong contacts with leading chambers in this field.
Should you require any further information about funding litigation, please contact Robert Johnson on 020 7822 4106, e-mail robert.johnson@healys.com.
