July 31, 2017

In a speech at the opening of the new Business and Property Courts for Wales, the Lord Chief Justice, Lord Thomas said that the opening represented “the pragmatic and dynamic approach of our joint jurisdiction”.  In fact, the bringing together of the specialist civil courts for Wales at Cardiff follows the launch of the Business and Property Courts in London, Birmingham, Manchester and Leeds, to be followed in due course by a similar opening in Bristol.

Lord Thomas said that the judiciary wants to ensure that for each of these cities, and for Wales, the specialist courts will provide “a comprehensive and expert method of court-based dispute resolution, where each of the Business and Property Courts, whether in London or outside London, will deal with any type of business case, whatever its value or complexity.”  Lord Thomas also said that it was “essential” that businesses in of Wales and in the regions of England can litigate in those cities on exactly the same basis as they can litigate in London.  To read Lord Thomas’s speech in full, click here.