The 11th edition of the Commercial Court Guide was published last week, reflecting a variety of changes to court practice. The new edition includes amendments to reflect new ways of working prompted, in part, by the Covid-19 pandemic. So, for example, parties and their legal representatives are encouraged to minimise the use of paper. Bundles … Read more

On 6 September 2021, the government published its response to the 2019 consultation paper, Extending Fixed Recoverable Costs in Civil Cases: Implementing Sir Rupert Jackson’s Proposals (considered here). The response notes that it has been delayed principally due to the COVID-19 pandemic. As the name suggests, a fixed recoverable costs (FRC) regime fixes the amount … Read more

The Lord Chief Justice’s Report 2020 was laid before Parliament yesterday. It notes, unsurprisingly, that the last seven months have been dominated by the courts’ response to the Covid-19 pandemic – a response which has been remarkably successful in civil commercial cases, with a widespread move to video and telephone hearings to allow the administration … Read more

On Monday 7 September, the Commercial Court presented its first virtual seminar as part of the celebration of the Court’s 125th anniversary, entitled: “Year 126 and onwards: planning for the future of London’s Commercial Court“. Chaired by Lord Justice Flaux, the Supervising Lord Justice for the Commercial Court, the event comprised panel sessions on virtual … Read more

The Civil Justice Council (CJC) has published its report and recommendations following a “rapid review” of the impact of Covid-19 on the civil justice system. The review was undertaken in the first half of May 2020 at the request of the Master of the Rolls. Unsurprisingly, the report states that the measures put in place … Read more

In a recent case, the High Court has rejected a party’s application to adjourn a five-week trial that is due to commence in June this year, where that would have meant a year’s delay before the trial could be held: In the matter of One Blackfriars Ltd [2020] EWHC 845 (Ch). The decision underlines the … Read more

A new Practice Direction (PD 51ZA) took effect yesterday. It is designed to introduce additional flexibility for parties to agree extensions of time where their ability to comply with deadlines is affected by the COVID-19 pandemic, and to ensure that the court takes into account the impact of the pandemic when considering whether to grant … Read more

In our post last Friday, we outlined how the courts were adapting to the challenges posed by the Covid-19 crisis, and in particular the announcement from the Lord Chief Justice that hearings would be held remotely where possible. Since then events have moved quickly, with the Prime Minister’s announcement earlier this week essentially putting the … Read more