Americas not ready for losers to pay

Is the British loser pays rule sweeping America? The idea is popular in polls, and already it is in effect in Alaska and some parts of Florida.

Lawyer of the Week: Geoffrey Robertson

Geoffrey Robertson, QC, head of Doughty Street Chambers, acted for the author Sir Salman Rushdie, who received unreserved apologies from the publisher and ghost writer for allegations made in a book by Ron Evans who was his police protection officer. Four thousand copies of the book have been pulped and a declaration of falsity was accepted, but no damages were sought.

Justice needs to be blind to a judge's lawful sexual interests

Is a judge's private life relevant to his court rulings? In a dissenting judgment in 2001, Judge Alex Kozinski, of the United States Court of Appeals, Ninth Circuit, stated that the private life of a judge was not relevant to the validity of a decision he had made in court. His colleagues disagreed, rejecting Judge Kozinskis warning: Welcome to the fishbowl. Now the private life of Judge Kozinski himself is under investigation.

In the City: who will be hanging around at the back door hoping to catch a few scraps?

No such thing?

Is it crunch time for the British criminal justice system?

Peter Lodder, QC, paints a grim picture of the justice system as it faces its own credit crunch. Well-publicised criminal trials are in jeopardy because of a dispute over barristers fees, courts are hit by a cash crisis and the Bar risks becoming the enclave of the wealthy. The courts, says the new chairman of the 4,000-strong Criminal Bar Association, were already pared to the bone even before the £90 million black hole of debt revealed last week.

In court today

Old Bailey

Turf wars erupt over fees for family cases

The credit crunch may dominate world headlines but closer to home lawyers are feeling the impact of their own pay squeeze.

A&L fined record £7 million for mis-selling

The Financial Services Authority has fined Alliance & Leicester (A&L) a record-breaking £7 million for mis-selling 210,000 payment protection insurance (PPI) policies.

Way open for £700m Buncefield payout by Total

Hundreds of claimants whose properties and businesses were ruined in Britain's biggest peacetime explosion are set for a £700 million payout after Total, one of Europe's largest oil companies, abandoned a key part of its defence against a lawsuit yesterday.

Test case for non-dom Robert Gaines-Cooper

A wealthy entrepreneur who was hit with a multimillion-pound tax bill after being stripped of his non-domiciled status has begun a High Court test case that could have big implications for non-doms.

Energy watchdog says 'unfair' market needs reform

More than 15 million households are overpaying for their gas and electricity in an unfair market that requires urgent reform, according to Ofgem, the energy market regulator.

French elite in the dock as £450m Angola arms trial begins in Paris

Some of the leading names in France's political and business elite went on trial yesterday over an arms-dealing scandal that could shine light on the murkiest dealings of the French state.

Women make breakthrough to High Court bench

Women are finally breaking through the glass ceiling of senior judicial appointments.

Buncefield victims set for £700 million payout after Total drops defence

Hundreds of claimants whose properties and businesses were ruined in Britain's biggest peacetime explosion are set for a £700 million payout after Total, one of Europe's largest oil companies, today abandoned a key part of its defence against a lawsuit.

Balfour Beatty gives up £2.25m after SFO probe

Balfour Beatty, the UK construction group, has been forced to surrender £2.25 million in unlawful proceeds after a Serious Fraud Office (SFO) investigation found inaccurate accounting practices at an Egyptian joint venture.

Long hours and stress drive lawyers to drink and drugs

A culture of long hours and stress are driving increasing numbers of lawyers to drink and drugs, both within and outside the workplace.

42-day detention dropped as unworkable

Gordon Brown is preparing for a humiliating climbdown over his proposal to hold terrorist suspects for 42 days after being told that it will be defeated in the House of Lords.

Britain decides against a new lower limit for drink-driving

Britain is to become the only European country that allows motorists to have at least one alcoholic drink and still be legally fit to drive.

No appeals for bus passengers

Bus passengers will have weaker legal rights than rail passengers, despite a government pledge that they would be treated equally by a new public transport watchdog.

In court today: Inquest of Jean Charles de Menezes

Oval Cricket Ground