One of the most common complaints about litigation made by clients is that it tends to take a long time for matters to be resolved and can lead to the diversion of valuable managerial resources over extended periods. In recent times, the Commercial Court has made significant progress in accelerating the process.

The Court has proven to be a significant success since its inauguration on 12 December 2004 and has become a core element of our practice. It was established to meet a perceived need to develop a more specialised approach to commercial cases. The Court deals with significant commercial disputes and aims to achieve efficient resolution of matters, primarily through early identification of the issues and strict case management, including the imposition and enforcement of strict - and often short - time limits.

The activity levels in Commercial Court cases are higher than in traditional litigation over a shorter period, but this ultimately results in earlier settlements and more efficient disposal of matters by a panel of senior High Court judges. Cases now are disposed of in a matter of months, rather than years.

We have been involved in several matters before the Commercial Court, including contractual disputes, agency disputes, claims relating to pension rights and employee benefits and claims relating to the exercise of share options.

Given the high demands involved in successfully dealing with cases before the Commercial Court, we have found that it is essential to have sufficient resources available to deal with matters in an efficient and prompt manner. Our team of 14 solicitors in the Litigation and Dispute Resolution Department work closely with appropriate counsel, with whom we have strong relationships, to ensure that clients receive the best possible service on time, every time.

What our clients think

Our clients have found the Court to be an efficient and most satisfactory way in which to resolve disputes. One client for whom we recently acted in proceedings commented that 'not only did we achieve an outcome with which we are happy, but thanks to your own and counsels' skill, we got there with a minimum amount of fuss and disruption.'

For further information please contact Michael Kavanagh.