The Legal Aid Sentencing and Punishment of Offenders Bill (LASPO) has nearly finished its passage through Parliament. Its provisions are expected to come into force in April 2013. As recommended by Jackson LJ, CFA success fees and 'after the event' insurance premiums will cease to be recoverable from opponents; 'damages based agreements' - contingency fees by another name - will be permitted to fund litigation; and the rewards for claimants who beat their own Part 36 offers at trial will be enhanced.
The detailed regulations needed to make these changes work, and many other changes recommended in Jackson LJ's Final Report, are to be implemented by CPR changes, or following further pilots, consultation and reports by working parties at the MoJ and the Civil Justice Council.
This link summarises what is known as at April 2012.
