Civil Lawyer

Stormcatcher is an innovative law firm offering a modern, flexible and efficient approach to legal services for private individuals and corporate clients founded on specialist advice and in-depth industry specific knowledge from experts in their field.

We know how stressful conflict, disputes and court claims can be; the time, the expense, and the feeling of being a fish out of water all adds to the anxiety, made worse by differing opinions between citizens advice, trading standards and high street solicitors.

We believe that peace of mind comes when you know you’re dealing with a professional who is truly an expert in their specialist practice area, someone who can talk the talk and walk the walk.

Ready to talk?  For legal support and advice, please get in touch

Flexible Civil Lawyer Services: Pick and Mix Options

Traditionally, a business or individual would instruct a solicitor on a full retainer where they would typically deals with the whole dispute resolution and litigation process from initial instructions until the conclusion of the case. This would include nominating and instructing counsel in other words a barrister to present the case in court.

However, in carrying out a study of legal services, the Competition and Markets Authority “found that obtaining the right service at good value can be challenging as consumers face wide variations in the cost of similar services. They can also struggle to find enough information to help them identify their legal need in the first place”

As a result of several million people thought to have an unmet legal need involving a dispute, and half of the small businesses experiencing a legal issue handing it alone, reform and modernisation of legal services is required

To meet this demand, we offer unbundled and outsourcing of some legal services on a fixed fee tariff allowing clients greater control of the costs and the process which can be used in conjunction the direct access barrister or to aid litigants in person to handle and present their own case.

Understanding Fast Track and Multi-Track Cases with Civil Lawyers

Costs and control has never been more important in claims in the Fast Track of the County Court typically with claim values of between £10,000 and £25,000 and those in the Multi Track over £25,000.

In Fast and Multi track disputes and litigation most solicitors will tell you that the costs will likely be close to if not equal or more than the claim value.

In short, a £25,000 claim could cost you £25,000 to prosecute. Although traditionally the loser pays the winners costs the successful party may only recover 70% of their costs meaning it you could be £7,500 out of pocket.

Additionally and understandably because of this legal costs can become a barrier to settlement out of court.

In our experience a subcontracted model could reduce your costs by up to 70%, including barrister representation making the unbundled model more accessible and affordable as well as providing greater flexibility for settlement.

Expert Civil Lawyer Services We Provide

A real heavy weight in the field of automotive law, consumer law, business, and contract disputes. The services we provide include the following:*

• Transparent expert legal advice on issues within our specialist practice areas and strategic advice on handling potential as well as ongoing civil legal disputes
• Drafting second opinions where other lawyers have already been involved
• Dispute resolution out of court whether by way of negotiation, mediation or arbitration and drafting settlement agreements
• Written advocacy, victory by correspondence. Disputes are often won and lost by a party’s ability to coherently articulate the strength of a case and the weakness of a defence in writing before proceedings are issued.
• Drafting or settling any statement of case including particulars of claim and/or defence for use by a litigant in person in court and arbitral proceedings
• Drafting witness statements for court, arbitration, tribunal and/or mediation purposes
• Drafting or settling an affidavit or any other legal document
• Claims management, regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority to advise a claimant or potential claimant, investigate a claim and represent a claimant, in relation to a financial services or financial product claim.

*The Bar Standards Board Unregistered Barristers Guidance states:

“An unregistered barrister, can provide any legal services that are not reserved legal Activities” and “[Legal services] includes legal advice, representation and drafting or settling any statement of case, witness statement, affidavit or other legal document.”

Legal Activities Our Civil Lawyers Don't Engage In

Section 12 Legal Services Act 2007 sets out six specific legal service activities which are reserved legal activities which can only be carried out by people who are authorised these are:

1. the exercise of a right of audience
2. the conduct of litigation
3. reserved instrument activities
4. probate activities;
5. notarial activities;
6. the administration of oath

Court Representation: Working with Direct Access Barristers

We do not offer court representation however we have worked and continue to work with a number of highly experienced trial direct access barristers who accept instruction under the public access scheme.

What Conduct of Litigation Means in Civil Law

The Legal Services Act describes the conduct of litigation as meaning:

Section 4(1)

1. the issuing of proceedings before any court in England and Wales,
2. the commencement, prosecution and defence of such proceedings, and
3. the performance of any ancillary functions in relation to such proceedings (such as entering appearances to actions).

(2) But the “conduct of litigation” does not include any activity within paragraphs (a) to (c) of sub-paragraph (1), in relation to any particular court or in relation to any particular proceedings, if immediately before the appointed day no restriction was placed on the persons entitled to carry on that activity.