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United Kingdom

Morris v Williams & Co Solicitors [2024] EWCA Civ 376: CPR 7.3 ‘convenience’ governs multi-claimant single claim forms; Abbott ‘real progress’ gloss rejected (England and Wales)

Published on: 29 April 2024

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Article summary

Too many claimants–litigating multiple claims on one claim form (Morris v Williams & Co Solicitors (A Firm))

Morris v Williams & Co Solicitors (A Firm) [2024] EWCA Civ 376

What are the practical implications of this case?

This ruling is a key judgment for practitioners who advise and act for claimants and defendants in multi-party litigation that is not expressly representative or group litigation. It will also interest a broader audience concerned with how the CPR is interpreted and developed.

What was the background?

About 134 claimants (the ‘Claimants’) issued a single claim form against the law firm Williams & Co Solicitors (the ‘Solicitors’). Each Claimant sought damages for alleged breaches of the Solicitors’ duty properly to advise regarding their investments in one or more of nine separate development projects promoted by the same corporate group. Northern Powerhouse Development Ltd (Northern Powerhouse), working through associated companies, promoted nine development projects in various parts of England and Wales between 2017 and 2020. The Claimants, as prospective investors, were to be granted leases of units within these developments. Northern Powerhouse nominated the Solicitors to act for, and advise, the prospective investors in each of the nine projects...

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