Commercial Court News

The judges of the Commercial Court regularly take part in academic and market discussions concerning current and future trends in the development of English law, frequently participating in seminars and events.

Find out more about the Court’s news and events below, and find out more on the Forthcoming Events webpage.

25 May 2023

Judge in Charge of the Commercial Courts meets with Manchester Circuit Commercial Court judges, practitioners and young lawyers

Mr Justice Foxton, the Judge in Charge of the Commercial Court, visited the Manchester Circuit Commercial Court on 18 and 19 May 2023.

The Judge met young solicitors and barristers at an event hosted by Addleshaw Goddard LLP. He gave a speech, also hosted by Addleshaw Goddard LLP. His speech, on “James Bond and the Law”, has been published. The event was one of a number organised by the Manchester Business and Property Courts forum.

On 19 May 2023, the Judge heard a half-day injunction application in the Manchester Circuit Commercial Court.

18 April 2023

The Commercial Court annual report 2021-2022 has now been published. It is available for download: Commercial Court annual report (2021-2022) is now available – Courts and Tribunals Judiciary

Unjust enrichment in the Commercial Court

Webinar hosted by the Commercial Court on 20 June 2023 from 5.15-7pm UK time (4.15-6pm GMT). For details of how to attend the seminar, see the event flyer (PDF).

28 March 2023

Visit from Judges and Case Management Officers from the Investment and Trade Court of Qatar

Find out what was discussed during the two-day visit hosted by the Commercial Court.

SIFoCC Panel Event hosted by the City of London

The Forum met to discuss its work and impact to date, and possible areas for future engagement.

15 March 2023

Judge in Charge of the Commercial Courts meets with Leeds Circuit Commercial Court judges, practitioners and users, and with young lawyers and law students

Mr Justice Foxton, the Judge in Charge of the Commercial Court, visited the Leeds Circuit Commercial Court on 14 and 15 March 2023.

Together with His Honour Judge Klein, the Judge met pupil barristers, trainee solicitors, apprentices and paralegals at a lunch hosted by BPP University Law School, and later a tea hosted by Parklane Plowden Chambers.

In the evening, Mr Justice Foxton gave a speech to the Leeds Business and Property Courts Forum, once again hosted by BPP University Law School, which was attended by a combined “in person”/remote audience of over 100. This is one of a series of events organised by the Leeds Business and Property Courts forum.

On 15 March 2023, the Judge heard a half-day application in the Leeds Circuit Commercial Court, in CC-2022-LDS000015, Holmes v Cox and others.

8 March 2023

Round up of Commercial Court February events/speeches:

On 6 February at 6pm, Mr Justice Bright chaired a London Shipping Law Centre hybrid seminar on “Enforcement of Letters of Indemnity, Misdelivery and the post-discharge application of the Hague/Hague-Visby Rules”.

On Wednesday 1 February at 5.30pm, Mr Justice Jacobs participated in a hybrid seminar organised by COMBAR on service out of the jurisdiction entitled “Are You Being Served? – Problems of service on the shop floor”. The seminar is open to Combar members only.

21 February 2023

Practice Note in relation to PD51O (PDF)

31 January 2023

Round up of Commercial Court January events/speeches:

On 16 January, Mrs Justice Cockerill participated in a seminar on “Wellbeing at the Commercial Bar” organised by COMBAR. The other panel members are David Joseph KC, Oliver Caplin and Lucy Burrows
On 18 January, the Chancellor (and Supervising Lord Justice of the Commercial Court) delivered a lecture “Disclosure in 2023 and beyond. Best practice, the do’s and don’ts and the Court’s expectations”
On 25 January, Mrs Justice Cockerill interviewed Lord Hoffmann: “Lord Hoffmann: in conversation with a reasonable man”. The interview is available to view now on YouTube (external link).
On 26 January, Mr Justice Foxton participated in an event organised by the Law Society and the City of London Law Society hosted by Allen & Overy LLP on the amendments made to the CPR gateways for service out of the jurisdiction. The other speakers were Tom Montagu-Smith KC, who chaired the sub-committee of the Civil Procedure Rules Committee which formulated the amendments, of which Mr Justice Foxton was a member, and Sarah Garvey
On 30 January, Mr Justice Foxton participated in a seminar “Legal Biographers on their subjects: Judges” at the LSE. The other panellists were Hilary Heilbron KC and Dr Victoria Barnes.

26 January 2023

On 26 January 2023, Mr Justice Foxton gave evidence to the House of Lords Special Public Bill Committee on the Electronic Trade Documents Bill.

The Bill reflects the Law Commission’s Electric trade documents: Report and Bill (Law Com No 405) which will render certain trade documents in dematerialised form capable of possession (and the application of legal doctrines which follow from that).

You can read the Law Commission’s report online (PDF). The evidence before the Special Public Bill Committee (which is chaired by Baron Thomas of Cwmgiedd PC) can be viewed on Parliament TV (external link).

13 December 2022

The Chancellor (and Supervising Lord Justice of the Commercial Court) Sir Julian Flaux delivered the COMBAR Annual Lecture 2022 on Wednesday 16 November on the subject of “Is commercial litigation going green? Environmental and greenwashing claims and how they will shape the law.” The Chancellor’s talk is available on the judiciary website.

Mr Justice Henshaw chaired a London Shipping Law Centre seminar on the Law Commission Consultation Paper on the Arbitration Act 1996 on 15 November 2022. Mr Justice Waksman spoke in Manchester on the subject of “Loss of a Chance: its proper scope and application” with Andrew Grantham KC on 25 November.

30 November 2022

Commercial Court User Group Meeting – November 2022 (Word document)

Please read more about the topics discussed at the meeting.

28 November 2022

Bridging the Bar and the Commercial Court

In March 2022, Bridging the Bar (BTB) and the High Court / Court of Appeal agreed to collaborate on a pilot work experience programme for aspiring lawyers from statistically under-represented backgrounds at the Bar. This scheme will see eight to 12 BTB participants assigned to a Judge and supported by their Judicial Assistant(s) in the High Court / Court of Appeal for a paid five-day work experience placement. Read more on the Education, diversity and social mobility webpage.

7 November 2022

SIFoCC meeting in Sydney, 20-21 October

On 20-21 October 2022, the world’s commercial courts gathered to discuss some of the most important international themes in commercial dispute resolution.

These included an integrated approach to litigation, arbitration and mediation; tackling complexity; addressing conflicts between jurisdictions; and the future of corporate legal responsibility in the context of climate change.

The 4^th full meeting of the Standing International Forum of Commercial Courts (SIFoCC) was jointly hosted, physically and online, by the Federal Court of Australia and the Supreme Court of New South Wales. England & Wales were represented by the Lord Chief Justice, the Senior President of Tribunals and the Master of the Rolls.

Find out more information about SIFoCC, and find out more about SIFoCC’s fourth full meeting (external link).

For information about SIFoCC’s fourth full meeting, please see the website

28 October 2022

Judge in Charge of the Commercial Court meets with Newcastle Circuit Commercial Court practitioners and users. Find out more about the visit and read Mr Justice Foxton’s speech ‘Football and the Law’.

17 October 2022

On 27 September 2022 Mr Justice Andrew Baker chaired a seminar hosted by the London Shipping Law Centre “Know your Limits”, an exploration of recent case law on limitation of liability; while Mrs Justice Cockerill addressed the London Common Law and Commercial Bar Association on the subject of Commercial Advocacy on 21 September 2022. You can read her LCLCBA speech online.