Introduction

The Commercial Court Guide has, like the Commercial Court itself, a long history. The Guide was last fully rewritten in 1999 alongside the introduction of the Woolf Reforms including the Civil Procedure Rules. A number of editions of the Guide preceded and followed the 1999 edition. Many distinguished Judges of the Court have contributed over the years. The Guide is intended to promote the efficient conduct of litigation in the Commercial Court and its sister the Admiralty Court. The Guide is also used for cases in the Financial List. For cases in the Circuit Commercial Courts, the Guide supplements the Circuit Commercial Court Guide. The Commercial Court is part of the Queen's Bench Division of the High Court and within the umbrella of the Business and Property Courts of England & Wales. Commercial Court and the Admiralty Court work collegiately with our judicial colleagues in the Chancery Division and the Technology and Construction Court.