It's a data dilemma

The increasing volume of electronically stored information means that deciding how to store and where to locate data is a key issue for any business. Storage of vast amounts of electronic data can be expensive and inconvenient.

The advent of "cloud computing" is an example of the creative ways in which documents may now be stored.

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It's time to say 'freeze'

The European Commission has proposed the introduction of a Europe-wide bank account freezing order, known as a European Account Preservation Order (EAPO).

The EAPO will provide creditors with a quick and easy process to obtain a court order that can freeze bank accounts belonging to a debtor in any country in the European Union (EU).

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Data Dos and Don'ts

With the proliferation of electronic documents, the globalisation of commerce and disputes, and the availability of a range of different document storage options, businesses are increasingly turning their attention to their document management practices.

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Expert View: Don't lose out on loss

The global downturn has had many significant effects on the way companies do business. One change that has arisen is that companies are now showing greater levels of awareness of the risks they face, and as a result, there has been a greater demand for insurance. A particular type of insurance that is attracting attention is business interruption insurance.

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It's a blame game

By now we are all used to hearing news of falling house prices, rising unemployment, and deepening recession. And although there have also been recent predictions of economic green shoots, many businesses have suffered as a result of the credit crunch.

But there are some industries that have profited from the market events of the past couple of years. Insolvency practitioners, low-end supermarkets and litigation lawyers are all examples of these.

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The IT court case of the year

Earlier this year, a long-awaited judgment was handed down on a technology "supercase" – BSkyB v EDS. Seventy witnesses took the stand and the documents filled 400 bundles. The result? A significant victory for BSkyB, with EDS being ordered to pay £270 million in interim payments pending determination of the final sum due. The remaining issues in relation to quantifying the damages payable will be decided at a further hearing later this month.

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Expert view: Civil litigation may change soon

Last year marked the ten-year anniversary of the Civil Procedure Rules, the sweeping reforms of the civil justice system spearheaded by Lord Woolf. Although many of these reforms have been judged successful, it is widely agreed they have failed to curb rising legal costs, often blamed for inhibiting access to justice.

In November 2008 senior judge Lord Justice Jackson was appointed to lead a fundamental review of the system of costs in civil litigation. Lord Justice Jackson’s report was published last month. The key recommendations include:

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Expert view: Welcome to class actions, US-style

Many of the column inches generated by the introduction of the Financial Services Bill to Parliament last month were dedicated to the elements of the bill relating to bankers’ bonuses. But there is another aspect of the bill which has not received the attention it deserves.

This is the proposal to introduce a form of class action in the UK in the financial services arena.

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