Practice Note: Commercial Court and London Circuit Commercial Court
Circuit Commercial CourtCommercial CourtDame Victoria SharpPresident of the King’s Bench DivisionPractice Guidance
1. The current practice of the Commercial Court has been to transfer claims with a value at risk of approximately £5 million or less or the foreign currency equivalent (exclusive of interest and costs) to the London Circuit Commercial Court unless retention is justified by reason of the factors set out in CPR r. 30.3(2). The current practice of the London Circuit Commercial Court (set out in Paragraph B.7 of the Circuit Commercial Court Guide) has been to transfer claims with a financial value of less than £500,000 or the foreign currency equivalent (exclusive of interest and costs) to an appropriate County Court unless retention is justified by reason of the factors set out in CPR r. 30.3(2).
2. With effect from 1 July 2025:
a) The practice of the Commercial Court will be to transfer claims with a value at risk of £7 million or less or the foreign currency equivalent (exclusive of interest and costs) to the London Circuit Commercial Court unless retention is justified by reason of the factors set out in CPR r. 30.3(2);
b) The practice of the London Circuit Commercial Court will be to transfer claims with a financial value of less than £1 million or the foreign currency equivalent (exclusive of interest and costs) to an appropriate County Court unless retention is justified by reason of the factors set out in CPR r. 30.3(2);
c) As before, no case will be transferred without giving the issuing party (and all other parties if they have been served) an opportunity to make representations.
3. Save as provided in Paragraph 2 above:
a) The practice of the Commercial Court concerning transfer of cases will remain as set out in CPR Part 58.4, Practice Direction 58, Paragraphs 4.1-4.4, and Section B.13 and Appendix 14 of the Commercial Court Guide; and
b) The practice of the London Circuit Commercial Court will continue to be as set out in CPR Part 59.3, Practice Direction 59, paragraph 3, and Sections B6 and B7 of the Circuit Commercial Court Guide.
Dame Victoria Sharp,
President of the King’s Bench Division
Mr Justice Henshaw,
Judge in Charge, Commercial Court
His Honour Judge Pelling KC,
Judge in Charge, London Circuit Commercial Court