Dr Friston on Costs

It goes to the printers this week and the new edition will be published at the beginning of next month.Hurray.

SORTING OUT THE SUPREME COURT

Poor Lord Neuberger is going to have his hands full.There are obvious rifts . The very recent Solihull decision saw Lord Mance, with elegance , slap down new boy Lord Sumption .See paragraphs 49 and 50. Some very ,very senior Judges resent the arrival of the latter without having served his time at the harsh end first.
A team -building and bonding exercise is called for. Lord Neuberger and i travel together on the Eurostar to Paris so why not take the court to Disneyland ? Two minor issues. Lady Hale may have a problem going on Big Thunder Mountain because of height restrictions and no one is allowed to jump the queue , however bright they might be.

DAMAGES BASED AGREEMENTS

The CJC has published a report recommending how these should work. It is full of sense save that i believe that there ought to be a cap on the maximum percentage that can be taken from the client. Limits are proposed for various areas and indeed in the Employment Tribunal we have had a cap of 35% , a topic i , and others , advised the Government upon.I do not see why an upper limit of 50% should not be the ultimate ceiling in every type of DBA funded claim.

SURREALISM IN HARRODS

I could not decide which sight filled me with greater woe yesterday. Was it the Christmas department in full swing or the Non-alcoholic Champagne at £22-95 a bottle? Bonkers.

RADCLIFFE CHAMBERS

If you are going to throw a party do it properly. The event on the roof this week was textbook with wine fiend Shantanu Majumdar having chosen Laytons Champagne . Other members of the Cambridge litigation mafia , including Leanne Davis, were there .A happy hour .

THE DISCOUNT RATE

The consultation paper has just been released. The lady with the tea leaves got it right yet again.Now for the lottery.

A NEW LORD CHANCELLOR

I wrote here on June 1st that a Cabinet reshuffle was being planned . The papers today report that Ken Clarke QC will be moved on and Ian Duncan Smith is suggested as his replacement.