In brief: Clifford Chance wins £1m damages action

A High Court judge last week threw out a £1 million claim for negligence brought against Clifford Chance and former partner David Bowyer for failing to implement the final wishes of the late property millionaire Eric Hopton. Bowyer is currently with City firm Withers. The action was brought by Hopton's great nephew, Old Etonian Dominic Trusted, under legal aid. Trusted had claimed he was entitled to more money than he received under the terms of a revised will drawn up for Hopton by Clifford Chance, but never signed. Mr Justice Jonathan Parker found against Trusted and rejected his claim that the firm had been negligent. A spokesman for Clifford Chance welcomed the decision but questioned how "unmeritorious claims of this kind can be brought against us on legal aid".