News & Events: Paul Mertens
“Fundamental Dishonesty” in the Court of Appeal
Paul Mertens reviews the recent decision of Howlett v Davies [2017] EWCA Civ 1696, the first case in which the Court of Appeal has considered the approach to “fundamental dishonesty” as an exception to Qualified One-Way Costs Shifting (QOCS) under CPR 44.16(1). Background Howlett v Davies was a fairly commonplace PI claim arising from a […]
Claims exiting the RTA Protocol
What costs are recoverable? Plus, the latest decision on costs budgeting and relief from sanctions Paul Mertens reviews two important decisions from the Court of Appeal on fixed recoverable costs, along with the Court’s most recent decision on costs budgeting and relief from sanctions. Fixed Recoverable Costs In the last week, The Court of Appeal […]
Updated guidance on the efficient conduct of Financial Remedy hearings in the High Court
On the 24th January 2016, Mr Justice Mostyn issued updated guidance on the conduct of financial remedy proceedings in the High Court (see here). It lays down important new rules concerning skeleton arguments and reiterates and reinforces other key messages about court bundles and the requirement to agree a Statement of Issues, Schedule of Assets, […]
Self-represented parents and the cross-examination of a child
The abolition of legal aid for family cases and the concomitant increase in the number of self-representing parents appearing before the new single Family Court, continues to raise troubling (and perhaps unforeseen) legal situations that risk damaging our justice system and the rights of those who come before the courts. The recent case of Re […]
Paul Mertens appointed to BSB CPD Expert Panel
Pump Court Chambers is pleased to annouce that Paul Mertens has been appointed to the Bar Standards Board’s CPD Expert Panel, which will consider and advise on the profession’s future CPD requirements. Working alongside the BSB executive with Michael Edenborough QC (Serle Court) and Matthew Nicklin QC (5RB), Paul is delighted to be be able […]
