DO YOU WANT TO SELL YOUR FIRM /WORK?

I have been retained by a  serious buyer with funds who wishes to acquire decent quality work. Everything in strictest confidence. Those who know me will tell you that i am always discreet . 

IN -HOUSE TRAINING

I am not one to flaunt myself but i am available this side of the summer to come visit and deliver bespoke in -house training. 

The biggest topics of the moment are 

1. The new Part 36 .There are daily incidents of professional negligence based upon the old 2007 Rules. A talk that should pay for itself many times over.

2.Preparing for trial which includes guidance on witness statements , amendment , experts and the dreaded bundles. Also , where a case from 1722 is so useful.

3. Default, sanctions and relief which is nowhere as straightforward as some suggest.

4. Budgeting 2015. 

Thank you . You can get me at profregan@icloud.com 

DO YOUR CLIENTS RATE YOU ?

I was recently asked by a very large organisation to express an opinion about a big  commercial firm based outside London . Why ask me ? The astute reply was that they knew I was heavily involved in training and would have a view about awareness and competence . What had provoked their question was a survey showing that this firm had slipped in some satisfaction survey .
I answered honestly and said that whilst I had provided training for this entity I had not been asked to in the last 2 years . That seemed to confirm their suspicions . Intriguing stuff . 

PART 36

The eminent head of training at a major City firm tells me that about half of the supposed Part  36 offers his firm receives are defective ! It is negligent for a claimant to make an invalid offer as it will cost the client and the firm as well . 

NEW PART 36 FORM

I am as sorry as I am bewildered to report that the Rules Committee did not get around to signing off a new N242 last Friday. I realise they have a lot on their plate but this ought to have taken a minute . I will keep you posted on progress . Thank you Beverley for the information .

2015 WHITE BOOK

The new edition is accompanied by a nifty Costs paperback .
Be cautious about the hourly rates when budgeting  comments at 4.28 , plainly written before the superb judgment of Warby J in YEO 2 months ago.
The Part 36 chapter by Peter Hurst is exquisite and utterly accurate. 

A GREAT BIG DAY OF COSTS AND FUNDING !

I will be hosting this event and giving 2 talks at the Park Plaza Hotel , Westminster , on 22nd May. Loads more details to follow ! Thank you to Sajid Hussain and Reuben Glynn for all the donkey work. 

WELCOME TO THE NEW PART 36

It kicks in today .
I encounter more professional negligence issues here than anywhere else in litigation practice . Make sure you are fully conversant with the Rules , old and new . 

WHY PI LAWYERS HAVE A BAD IMAGE

"The assistant district attorney who prosecuted the case, Francis Bloom, has since been publicly censured for fabricating a confession and forging signatures in another case; he is now working as a personal-injury lawyer" . ' THE NEW YORKER ' APRIL 13th 2015. . 

MARKS & SPENCERS WINE

The range of wines here has improved dramatically . Stunning deals exist too . Right now we are in buy 6 get 25% off. Unusually, this applies to wine already on promotion. Yesterday we tried a Canadian Cabernet which had been £16 but was half price. Deduct the bulk discount and it was £6 and delicious .
You can get a 50 Cl Montepulciano for £2-99 ( £2-25 in bulk offer ) . You cannot make it for that price . Go look .
Thanks to Clare de Courcy Ling for the tip off.
Best value for Easter consumption is 2012 Lalande de Pomerol. Classy Bordeaux . Telegraph mag today rates Gillet Bordeaux as tipped by Sean Jones and myself at Christmas (£7-50 ) . 

EASTER WINE

A good time to buy. Both Marks and Morrisons are doing the buy 6 get 25% off . The latter has a fabulous deal on Bollinger and their own label Champagne is fine .

VICARIOUS LIABILITY

The Supreme Court is to hear both COX and MOHAMUD together in October . 

APRIL SOFT TISSUE REFORMS

Are they going to be implemented in under 2 weeks ? It is looking dubious . 

GETTING THE COURT FEE RIGHT

I have had lots of enquiries from those anxious to pay the correct fee. What if the claim later rockets in value ?
My one practical thought is that , at the point of issue , you prepare a file note explaining why you pitched the claim at the level that you did .
Keep an eye on quantum and do not be shy about amending and then paying the relevant higher fee .
If you had the wisdom to  get numbers right every time you would not be reading this . Judges will be sympathetic save where they see a cynical attempt to avoid a high fee by pitching in a silly value. 

THE NEW PART 36

It arrives on Easter Monday and radical , subtle changes are made . I have had a hectic time talking about the reforms around the country,
What is staggering is how many negligence claims are provoked by q misunderstanding or misapplication of the Rule .
Do let me know if you might possibly want an update ! 

THE UNDOING OF JACKSON

Here is a link to a note I have just written for Jan Millar at the NLJ.
http://www.newlawjournal.co.uk/nlj/content/what-might-have-been

NEW TALKS

I have kept my head down to write up new talks for this year . The job is complete . The most popular in - house topics are
THE NEW PART 36
PREPARING FOR TRIAL
BUDGETING 2015 . 

WHEN TO BUY WINE

With Easter a month away you would be wise to sit tight for 2 or 3 weeks as deals are always rolled out as the holiday approaches .If you have a wedding or other celebration later this year you will find stunning deals on fizzy bottles .
Having said that , Marks and Spencer are doing buy 6 get 25% off . In some parts of the country it is buy 3 and get 20% off .  

THOMPSONS

I forgot to thank Mike Goodridge for the tip off . 

Thompsons without a Thompson

It is the end of an era with David having just retired from the firm created by WH and then continued by his sons Robin and Brian .