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In Practice | Law Gazette

• Wasted costs order over e-disclosure failures
  

  When assessing litigation costs, the expense of collecting, analysing and reviewing information is a key consideration. Only by ensuring that these processes are completed accurately and efficiently can the cost of e-disclosure be effectively managed.

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• Copyright
  

  Infringement - Artistic work - Claim arising from use of peer-to-peer file-sharing website to download music

  Dramatico Entertainment Ltd and other companies v British Sky Broadcasting Ltd and other ­companies: ChD (Mr Justice Arnold): 2 May 2012

  The claimants were record companies claiming on their own behalf and in a representative capacity on behalf of other members of BPI (British Recorded Music Industry) Ltd and Phonographic Performance Ltd.

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• Privilege
  

  Disclosure and inspection of documents - Legal professional privilege - Communications between legal adviser and client

  Walter Lilly & Co Ltd v Mackay and another: QBD (TCC) (Mr Justice Akenhead): 15 March 2012

  In 2004, the claimant company was employed by the second defendant company to construct a house in London. Owing to delays, the couple who were to be the owners and occupiers of the house (Mr and Mrs M) became disillusioned with the claimant and in October 2006 retained the services of a firm of claims consultants, K.

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• Travellers, homelessness and bricks and mortar
  

  Basildon Borough Council did not act unlawfully when offering bricks and mortar accommodation to homeless former Dale Farm travellers. So found the Court of Appeal on 21 March 2012 in Sheridan and others v Basildon Borough Council [2012] EWCA Civ 335, which also usefully considered the extent of a housing authority’s homelessness duties in this context. Judgment was given by Patten LJ in which the chancellor of the High Court (Sir Andrew Morritt) and Pitchford LJ expressed one-line agreement.

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• Constitutional law
  

  Diplomatic privilege - Immunity from legal process - Domestic servants

  Wokuri v Kassam: ChD (Mr Justice Newey): 30 January 2012

  The claimant worked as a chef and general domestic servant for the defendant in Uganda under a contract (the 1998 contract). The claimant subsequently performed work for the defendant in the UK.

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Out-Law News

• Regulators set out criteria for dual regulation of certain investment firms
  The Prudential Regulation Authority (PRA) will consider a range of criteria including the value of an investment firm's total assets and its business model when deciding whether it will be dual-regulated under the new financial services regime.
  
• United House and Allied London to develop £100m east London scheme
  United House and Allied London have been chosen together as the preferred developers for a £100 million residential and retail redevelopment on Chrisp Street in east London.
  
• Croydon shopping centre redevelopment approved
  The London Borough of Croydon has approved plans for a £50 million redevelopment of the Centrale Shopping Centre.
  
• Mayor sets up architecture, design and urbanism panel with TfL
  Mayor of London Boris Johnson has set up a new architecture, design and urbanism panel with Transport for London (TfL). Consultants in this area will be selected to be on the panel and be eligible for up to £30 million worth of work.
  
• Proposed Thames Tunnel sites will not change, says Thames Water
  Thames Water has confirmed that the sites identified for its proposed Thames Tunnel 'supersewer' will not change following the second round of consultation, despite local opposition to the project.