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NLJ this week: Courts in command—UK dispute resolution leads through crisis

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John McElroy of Fieldfisher reports on a London International Disputes Week panel where senior judges showcased how the Business and Property Courts are adapting to global instability, in this week’s NLJ

Mr Justice Foxton, Mr Justice Green and Mr Justice Waksman highlighted reforms in disclosure, hybrid hearings, and AI-assisted litigation. The courts’ agility, transparency and international appeal were praised, with cases like Aercap v AIG ($4.5bn) and cross-border insolvencies cited as proof of their global relevance.

McElroy notes that while AI tools are improving efficiency, judges urged caution to ensure access remains equitable. The panel also proposed reforms: faster trials for simpler cases, stronger settlement incentives, and specialist disclosure judges.

With a tech-enabled infrastructure and a reform-minded judiciary, McElroy argues the UK courts are not just weathering global risks—they’re setting the standard for modern dispute resolution.

MOVERS & SHAKERS

Freeths—Ruth Clare

Freeths—Ruth Clare

National real estate team bolstered by partner hire in Manchester

Farrer & Co—Claire Gordon

Farrer & Co—Claire Gordon

Partner appointed head of family team

mfg Solicitors—Neil Harrison

mfg Solicitors—Neil Harrison

Firm strengthens agriculture and rural affairs team with partner return

NEWS
Conveyancing lawyers have enjoyed a rapid win after campaigning against UK Finance’s decision to charge for access to the Mortgage Lenders’ Handbook
The Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) has launched a recruitment drive for talented early career and more senior barristers and solicitors
Regulators differed in the clarity and consistency of their post-Mazur advice and guidance, according to an interim report by the Legal Services Board (LSB)
The dangers of uncritical artificial intelligence (AI) use in legal practice are no longer hypothetical. In this week's NLJ, Dr Charanjit Singh of Holborn Chambers examines cases where lawyers relied on ‘hallucinated’ citations — entirely fictitious authorities generated by AI tools
The Solicitors Act 1974 may still underpin legal regulation, but its age is increasingly showing. Writing in NLJ this week, Victoria Morrison-Hughes of the Association of Costs Lawyers argues that the Act is ‘out of step with modern consumer law’ and actively deters fairness
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