The Working Party into Commercial Court Long Trials, chaired by Mr Justice Aikens, reported this week. The foreword to the report makes clear that the working party was set up in the light of the experience in two very large claims that led to criticisms of commercial court procedure in long and complex trials.
The two cases are of course Three Rivers and Equitable Life. And it is true that what occurred in those two cases has damaged the perception of the commercial court as an efficient forum for dispute resolution for the international (as well as national) business community.
