It’s time for lawyers to take a constructive view about change, says Ed Crosse
When you talk to civil litigators in London, one topic that always comes up is the pace of change. We face constant shifts in the way that the courts operate and the rules to which we must adhere. The Civil Procedure Rules change every year, while new pilot schemes seem to launch every few months, introducing new ways of working for specific types of cases.
Yet standing still is not an option if London’s courts are to continue to be the forum of choice for domestic and international disputes. The realities of reduced funding for the justice system and increased competition both from arbitration and from other jurisdictions, means that practitioners and the courts need to embrace change. Only by engaging with this process will lawyers have an influence in ensuring that best ideas prevail and the unworkable are put aside.
Some of what is currently under consideration, such as yet higher court fees and fixed costs in cases worth up to £250,000, are likely to negatively affect London
