The Legal Aid Sentencing and Punishment of Offenders Bill received Royal Assent on 1 May. Though provisions on legal aid have received the most attention during its passage through Parliament, the part dealing with civil litigation funding sets the stage for sweeping reforms expected in April 2013.

Headline measures are a ban on referral fees together with the ending of recovery of success fees and ATE premiums.

Despite frantic lobbying by some interest groups, Jackson’s proposals for reform of litigation funding have remained largely intact. A Government ‘climb-down’ which has resulted in the exclusion of mesotherlioma cases from the reforms affects a limited proportion of claims.

Reassurances given by the Government, in relation to the operation of QOCS for example, will be tested when the draft rules bringing the scheme into effect are published.

Posted by James Arrowsmith, who specialises in high value personal injury claims, extensive experience of claims relating to head injuries and serious bodily injury, psychiatric damage and injuries to children.

James Arrowsmith
0121 237 3981
jarrowsmith@brownejacobson.com