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Improving transparency: new rules on public access to documents in proceedings

Published on 31 Oct 2025. By Daniel Hemming, Partner and Nadia Asfour , Associate

From 1 January 2026, new rules will come into force in the Commercial Court, London Circuit Commercial Court and Financial List with the aim of improving public access to documents in civil proceedings. The new rules will require legal representatives to add various categories of documents referred to at public hearings to the Court's electronic file, meaning they will be, by default, available to the public. The new rules are governed by Practice Direction 51ZH and are part of a 2-year pilot scheme aimed at improving transparency and open justice in the civil courts.

Judicial guidance on time limits for challenges to post-arbitral awards

Published on 27 Oct 2025. By Karina Plain, Senior Associate and Kirtan Prasad, Of Counsel

The question of whether challenges brought under section 72(1) of the Arbitration Act 1996 (the AA) can be made post-award has been a source of judicial and academic debate.

Dust Settles in Favour of Industrial Defendant: Andrews v Kronospan Limited

Published on 20 Oct 2025. By Zoe Mernick-Levene, Partner and Alexandra Prato, Associate

In the recent case of Andrews v Kronospan Limited [2025] EWHC 2429 (TCC), the High Court rejected a group nuisance claim brought by residents living near a major wood-processing facility in North Wales.

First of a kind: High Court grants injunction restraining enforcement of an English Court judgment

Published on 16 Sep 2025. By Dan Wyatt, Partner and Sarah Barrie, Associate

Recent High Court judgment clarifies the scope of the English court's powers to grant anti-enforcement injunctions and the applicable legal test for granting anti-suit injunctions

Allegations of arbitrator bias fall flat in the recent case of V and N v K

Published on 12 Sep 2025. By Jessica Davies, Senior Associate and Shai Wade, Partner, Head of International Arbitration

In the recent case of V and N v K[1] the High Court confirmed the high threshold required for establishing arbitrator bias and considered the extent of an arbitrator's duty to disclose previous appointments in arbitrations under the London Maritime Arbitrators Association (LMAA) Rules. The judgment provides a useful review of the principles and serves as a reminder for parties to ensure that any challenges to arbitrator independence are properly particularised, considering the relevant practice for arbitrator appointment in the relevant field.

The Competition Appeal Tribunal provides further guidance on "standard requirements" in CPO Applications

Published on 04 Sep 2025. By Chris Ross, Partner and Zoe Mernick-Levene, Partner and Alexandra Shearer, Senior Associate

The landscape surrounding the certification by the Competition Appeal Tribunal (the Tribunal) of applications for Collective Proceeding Orders (CPOs) (the necessary first step before a collective action can proceed to trial in the Tribunal) continues to develop as more claims proceed through the certification process and judgments are published. Now the legal principles underlying the certification of a collective action are better established, the Tribunal appears to be turning its mind to more forensic procedural management of this process, and establishing a series of standard requirements it expects proposed class representatives (PCRs) to meet in CPO applications.

Down and (finally) out: The Privy Council confirms the end of the Shareholder Rule exception to privilege

Published on 26 Aug 2025. By Adam Forster, Partner and Hazel Meikle-Downing, Associate

The Privy Council has resolutely confirmed the end of the "Shareholder Rule" exception to legal professional privilege – a decision that may have a significant impact on shareholder claims in the English courts going forward.

RPC traces the trends for LIDW25

Published on 30 Jun 2025. By Jonathan Cary, Partner

With London International Disputes Week 2025 now wrapped up, we are reflecting on what it might tell us about the evolution of the disputes landscape.

CAT Collective Proceedings - Summer 2025 update

Published on 28 May 2025. By Chris Ross, Partner and David Cran, Partner, Head of Disputes and Zoe Mernick-Levene, Partner

Developments in the UK’s competition collective proceedings regime continue apace with new claims recently issued in the Competition Appeal Tribunal (CAT).

Court of Appeal decision allows litigation funders to be paid first in collective proceedings

Published on 13 May 2025. By Zoe Mernick-Levene, Partner

Another blow for Italian regional authorities in Italian Swaps saga judgment

Published on 12 Mar 2025. By Tom Hibbert, Partner and William Monaghan, Associate

Shortly before Christmas, the Commercial Court handed down judgment in another one of the long line of 'Italian Swaps Cases', Dexia SA v Regione Emilia Romagna.