
For London to maintain its litigation crown, we cannot rest on past achievements or be complacent, says Ed Crosse
In a speech to the judiciary at the Mansion House earlier this month, the Lord Chief Justice, Lord Thomas, reminded his audience that legal services contributed around £25bn to the national economy last year, and that ‘just as the common law, developed over the centuries by our greatest judges, is one of our greatest exports, our legal profession—Legal UK—and our courts and their ability to deliver timely, efficient and effective justice are our greatest means to maintain its worldwide reputation and prominence’.
Lord Thomas unequivocally rejected rumours insinuated by our competitors that Brexit will mean that English law is no longer certain or that London is no longer a safe forum to bring disputes. However, he rightly cautioned that ‘we cannot, at this time, think of resting on our past achievements’.
The LSLA and NLJ’ s Annual Litigation Trends Survey confirms this. In relation