02 June 2020
The COVID-19 crisis is likely to create long-term challenges for courts, particularly commercial courts, an international forum of commercial courts has warned
In a memorandum published last week, the Standing International Forum of Commercial Courts (SIFCC) highlighted various consequences of the pandemic, citing lasting damage to economies, increased defaults in the business sector, greater use of technology by business, the build-up of a dispute backlog, damage to ‘at least some’ parts of the legal profession, and increased calls for better access to justice for those without means.
The SIFCC said more use of online hearings in commercial cases in future was ‘likely’. Lord Thomas, chair of the SIFCC steering group, said the memorandum ‘demonstrates the importance of Commercial Courts working closely through the Standing International Forum to share information and best practice’.
