Disclosure reforms generating debate

Proposals for disclosure reforms have received widespread interest with more than 250 pages of feedback received. The proposals, drawn up by a working group led by Mrs Justice Gloster, could be fine-tuned during a potential two-year pilot in the business and property courts. Speaking at the latest Commercial Court Users’ Group meeting working group member Ed Crosse, partner at Simmons & Simmons, reported that, while some of the feedback disagreed with the proposals, there had been detailed debate on subjects such as the duty to disclose adverse documents, improving basic disclosure, the need for training in the professions and aspects of technology. The minutes of the meeting, held in March, were published last week.