1st Full Meeting – London 2017

On Friday, 5 May 2017, commercial courts from five continents gathered in London. This was the first time this has happened. Why now?

There were three reasons.

• First, because users – that is, business and markets – will be better served if best practice is shared and courts work together to keep pace with rapid commercial change.
• Second, because together courts can make a stronger contribution to the rule of law than they can separately, and through that contribute to stability and prosperity worldwide.
• Third, because this is a means of supporting developing countries long encouraged by agencies such as the World Bank to enhance their attractiveness to investors by offering effective means for resolving commercial disputes.

The invitation, to meet and to form a Standing International Forum of Commercial Courts, came from the Lord Chief Justice of England & Wales, Lord Thomas, himself a former judge of the Commercial Court in London. It followed speeches he has delivered in Dubai, Singapore, Cayman Islands, London and (last month) Beijing. His invitation was accepted by jurisdictions with a longer established commercial court offering and those with a relatively more recent offering.

The representation was without exception at senior judicial level, including Heads of commercial court. 16 jurisdictions were represented by their Chief Justice.
The meeting was held at the Rolls Building, in the City of London and the centre for the courts (including the Commercial Court) which together comprise the Business & Property Courts of England & Wales. At other points of the programme, guests were warmly received at the Locarno Suite in the Foreign & Commonwealth Office, at Middle Temple and at the Royal Courts of Justice.

The meeting affirmed the importance and feasibility of cooperation and collaboration between all jurisdictions. The shared willingness to provide help to developing countries was also affirmed. The discussion then extended to enforcement, case management, technology, best practice, and the relationship between commercial courts, arbitration and mediation.