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Berkshire firm closes

Willmett Solicitors, a mixed practice with offices in Reading, Windsor, Maidenhead and Woodley, has closed.

Defective product claimant allowed to substitute defendant after limitation period

Claimants in defective products cases could be allowed to substitute defendants if there has been a mistake as to the appropriate party to sue, even where the ten-year limitation period set out in the product liability directive has expired, the European Court of Justice has ruled.

Bar fury over "cost-cutting" VHCC scheme

Barristers have reacted angrily to an announcement from the LSC today that one option for 'very high cost' criminal cases would be to extend the limits for the standard graduated fee scheme from cases lasting 40 days to 60 days.

Beresford loses High Court appeal

Jim Beresford and Douglas Smith, former partners at Doncaster-based Beresfords, have lost their High Court appeal against the Law Society and the SRA.

Courts can make contact orders between boy living in Pakistan and mother in UK

English and Welsh courts have jurisdiction to make contact orders between children living outside the EU and their parents, the Supreme Court has ruled.

The Climate Change Act 2008

Great expectations: the Climate Change Act reflects the UK's staunch commitment to reduce greenhouse gases, but the implementation process is complex and questions remain over the impact on businesses, the apportionment of responsibility to meet targets, and enforcement. Janet Matthews reports

Update: consumer

Mark Lucas reviews the judgment on unauthorised borrowing charges, the break up of the big banks, the FSA's mortgage market review, BIS' consultation on credit and store card terms, and the OFT's success in persuading the Builders Merchants Federation to amend its terms and conditions

Taking an interest

With new guidance on referrals now in place, all practitioners managing referred work should positively ensure that they are acting in the best interests of their clients, warns Tony Guise