SWALLOW OR SPIT

After the busiest week of my so-called career it is a pleasure to get down to writing the Christmas wine column for Counsel magazine with Sean Jones.
Two top tips to keep you going .
1. Buy 6 at Sainsburys and get 25% off. Their own label Blanc de Noir champagne is superb and comes down to about £12, less than half the price you would pay in France for anything similar. Their own label wines are great value; try the Pinot Noir for £4.
2. The best value in a red bottle today is the Waitrose 2010 French Chasseur  at £4-35.It is delicious and would be a brilliant buy for a party . It is more elegant than many costing north of £10.

FREE SEMINAR

EPIQ is hosting a seminar touching on costs , Jackson and e-disclosure in London at 4pm on November 8th. there are already 100 acceptances but you still have a chance to attend. Just ping a note to dblaxell@epiqsystems.co.uk .See you there .

THE CHAMBERS AWARDS

This was a happy event for the 2 sets that I am closest to.9 Gough Square collected the injury award whilst 11 KBW won employment , yet again.
There were 2 frustrating aspects to the evening . Every 2 minutes a flunky would utter a shhh that was louder than the happy murmurs he sought to suppress .
Jacob Levy , seemingly nominated for more awards than anyone ever , walked away empty handed and I had to spend my evening consoling him.Whilst it was a tad ambitious for his keen clerk to enter him for most glamorous female barrister ( under 30) award I did leave feeling that he had been robbed.
I had the benefit of sitting with Paul Reason who is the best company . Thanks to Mike at 9 Gough who has had a cracking year and we still Have the pi awards yet to come .

JUDICIAL DELAY

Some months ago i wrote in support of the Bristol Mercantile Court Judge for no one else had. He was castigated by the Court of Appeal for taking too long to produce a judgment which was upheld in every respect.
It is now apparent that the Supreme Court has a significant backlog of cases and PLC reports that the Prudential appeal on the issue of privilege may not be dealt with for a year.It strikes me that a litigant is just as badly off awaiting a hearing as they would be if awaiting a judgment.
The solution is to keep the bench to 5 and let them crack on with their work. On a  a salary of  £206,857 each when last  i checked it is not unreasonable to expect a bit of decent case management too.

AWARDS

 Here i am with my 2 editors on the award winning 'New Law Journal' plus John Cooper QC who was over-dressed due to having been to Buckingham Palace before visiting the Lexis authors party.
 It was decent of Chambers , who canvassed my views earlier this year , to send me details of the hot 500.
I have just been honoured with membership of the Legal Week awards committee; they are so thorough.
Finally , on november 24th it is the personal injury awards  , the judging being chaired in magisterial fashion by Andrew Twambley .What a man.

David di Mambro

It is a joy to listen to someone who knows what they are talking about . David , of Radcliffe Chambers, gave a lovely talk about unjust enrichment this afternoon in
London. Captivating .

CREDIT HIRE

The Court of Appeal has heard a series of appeals concerning the lucrative business of credit hire.I understand that the court is keen to produce a coherent set of compatible judgments and so we may have to wait until December to see the outcome.

SIMON BUTLER

It was announced today by 9 Gough Square that they have landed the great tort talent that is Simon Butler. With his equally dynamic contemporary in the same set , Stuart McKechnie , we are going to see some spectacular litigation skills displayed .

SUPREME COURT VACANCIES

Laws LJ is looking a hot prospect for elevation to the top court .

A NEW PROTOCOL

We are to see in January a protocol for the regulation of commercial property dilapidation cases.

THE JUSTICE MINISTER

The Djanogly family knew a good earner when they saw it . The brother on law of our Justice Minister owned 2 claims management companies . Two children of the Minister were , until very recently , shareholders. It is wondrous that the light has been seen and Parliament will debate next week the ban on referral fees. To show that all is above board Ken Clark is now in charge of regulating claims companies, a short - term task.

FOOTBALL PITCHES

Lord Justice Gross has granted Calderdale MBC leave to appeal against a decision that it was to blame when an amateur footballer injured his foot due to a rut on the pitch.

TRAFIGURA

My thanks to Michael Bacon who tells me that the first instalment of the Trafigura decision will be published by the Court of Appeal on Wednesday.

EASTWOODS TRAINING WEEKEND

Here is a firm which knows how to look after staff and speakers , good
Champagne on tap at the end of talks .Christina Lambert QC did a fine stint . She is a lady who likes a good scrap .She won, yet again.

THE SMALL CLAIMS LIMIT

Despite objections galore , including a thoughtful one from Sir Rupert, the MOJ has decided to double the limit to £10,000 .

OGDEN 7

To be published on Monday , at last.

PARTY LONDON THURSDAY EVENING!

Tomorrow evening 9 Gough Square Chambers and Paul Reason , the highly respected costs lawyer, are hosting a party for their respective clients at the Museum of London , Barbican, from 645pm until 10pm.If you would like to attend what is bound to be an excellent bash then do contact either of the organisers. I shall see you there.