Commercial Court annual report 2023-24
The Commercial Court Report 2023–2024 (including the Admiralty Court Report) has been published today.
The Court has had another year of high activity. The Court’s records show that 743 new claims were issued in the Commercial Court in 2023-24, and 1,082 in the Commercial Court and London Circuit Commercial Court taken together.
The Court also experienced increased numbers of trials and other hearings held, long trials, judicial sitting days, substantive judgments issued and new arbitration claims. The Court continued to handle many international disputes, comprising about 75% of its work: a similar level to previous years.
The Commercial Court generally handles claims valued at £8 million or more, with the London Circuit Commercial Court dealing with similar types of claim valued typically in the range £1 million to £8 million.
In his introduction to the report, Mr Justice Henshaw, Judge in Charge of the Commercial Court, thanked his predecessor Mr Justice Foxton for his leadership of the court during his two-year tenure as Judge in Charge until August 2024; and also highlighted the importance of arbitration as part of the court’s work, the promotion of junior advocacy and outreach programmes, and dispute resolution outside London.
Mr Justice Henshaw thanked the judges’ clerks, court staff and listing team for their indispensable work in helping the Court continue to handle its high levels of complex business.