In this blog post, Patrick Vincent QC and Max Archer of 12 King’s Bench Walk explain the imminent challenges for insurers arising out of the rapid rise of drone technology. The proper regulation of drone use and its implications for insurers has quickly developed into a transnational legal issue generating ongoing discussions between lawyers, lawmakers,…
Read moreX v Kuoni: end of the line in sight
A date for the diary of all travel lawyers: the Supreme Court will give judgment for the second time in X v Kuoni on Friday 30 July 2021 at 9.45 am by video link. We will of course blog on the decision as soon as it is released.
Read moreExpert foreign law evidence … or judicial roulette?
We have previously blogged about the need for parties to litigation to follow the proper formalities in order to rely on expert foreign law evidence. In Pescatore v Valentino & Ors [2021] EWHC 1953 (Ch), HHJ Paul Matthews set out the position again: Before I turn to deal with the application for an injunction, I…
Read morePost-Brexit edition of Butterworths Personal Injury Litigation Service published
The “Accidents Abroad” Division of practitioner text Butterworths Personal Injury Litigation Service has for some years now been written and edited by members of 12 King’s Bench Walk’s International & Travel Team. Earlier this year, I worked with cross-border guru Philip Mead on the first post-Implementation Period version of the Division, building on last year’s…
Read moreEuropean Commission backs Hague Judgments Convention
We start the week with one eye on the future. On Friday, The European Commission adopted a proposal for the EU to accede to the Hague Judgments Convention. Didier Reynders, European Commissioner for Justice, said: Having one’s rights enforced in a country outside of the EU can be very cumbersome, both for private persons and for…
Read moreAn English fatal accident claim with a Spanish twist
In Chouza v Martin & Ors [2021] EWHC 1669 (QB), Martin Spencer J considered a number of interesting issues arising out of a fatal road traffic accident. John-Paul Swoboda of 12 King’s Bench Walk represented the Claimant. Although there was no foreign applicable law in this case, the judgment depended heavily on expert foreign law…
Read moreEU: Lugano is off the table
We previously blogged about reports that the European Commission had advised the EU not to allow the UK to accede to the Lugano Convention. On 1 July 2021, Switzerland, in its capacity as depository of the Convention, notified the Parties to the Convention that the EU has formally withheld its consent to the UK’s accession:…
Read moreInquests overseas: common issues and how to get around them
I am grateful to Natasha Jackson of 3 Hare Court for letting me feature this excellent article on inquests overseas and their interaction with the process in England and Wales. The article first appeared in 3 Hare Court’s Travel & Aviation Quarterly, which can be accessed here. Inevitably a coroner conducting an inquisition into a…
Read moreSetting aside a default judgment: danger for foreign defendants
This blog post draws attention to a short practice point which was commented on by the judge in Alli-Balogun v On the Beach Ltd & Ors [2021] EWHC 1702 (QB). The decision related to an (unsuccessful) attempt by a Spanish insurer to set aside a default judgment entered in relation to a claim by a…
Read moreStrike out applications denied in Malawian tobacco farmers group action
Martin Spencer J has rejected applications to strike out the claims of some 7,263 Malawian tobacco farmers brought against companies within the British American Tobacco group and Imperial Tobacco group. The claims, under citation Josiya and Ors v British American Tobacco Plc and Ors [2021] EWHC 1743 (QB), are for negligence, conversion (of tobacco leaves),…
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