New Guidelines Backed By Senior Figures In Legal Sector

Irwin Mitchell chairman Michael Napier has welcomed the launch of the Code Of Conduct on Litigation Funding and revealed his gratitude to the Working Group which helped him through the development of the new standards.

Mr Napier, chair of the Civil Justice Council Working Group, said the publication of the new guidelines would offer “a welcome wrapper of confidence” to everyone whose work is touched by the issue of litigation funding.

The voluntary Code features new standards of practice and behaviour for litigation funders across England and Wales. It has been confirmed that members of the Association Funders of England and Wales are to agree to abide by the code.

Senior figures across the legal sector welcomed the launch of the Code, with Lord Justice Jackson paying tribute to Mr Napier for his “excellent and painstaking work” on the project.

Commenting on the new regulations, Michael Napier said: “The long anticipated joint arrival of the Litigation Funding Code and The Association provides a welcome wrapper of confidence to litigants and lawyers who choose this developing method of funding civil cases.

“I am extremely grateful to the members of the working group for their hard work in completing this tough challenge.”