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24 March 2026
Issue: 8155 / Categories: Legal News , Profession , Dispute resolution
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High stakes litigation on the rise

High-stakes litigation is on the rise in the Commercial Court, according to law firm HFW’s litigation trends report, Inside London’s Commercial Court

The report, published last week, analyses court documents covering the past 12 years. It reveals the average judgment value soared from about £10m to almost £40m in 2025, while the median claim duration rose from 509 days in 2024 to 819 days, due to increased complexity.

HFW partner Andrew Williams said: ‘HFW is seeing an increasing influx of major cases coming to the Commercial Court. We expect this trend for bet-the-company disputes being heard by the court only to increase.’

Issue: 8155 / Categories: Legal News , Profession , Dispute resolution
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MOVERS & SHAKERS

Bell Yard Kysen—Liz Giles

Bell Yard Kysen—Liz Giles

Bell Yard Kysen appoints senior legal PR and ex-government communications adviser, Liz Giles

Clarke Willmott—Lee Edwards

Clarke Willmott—Lee Edwards

Clarke Willmott boosts Southampton commercial property team with addition of partner Lee Edwards

Lime Solicitors—four promotions

Lime Solicitors—four promotions

Lime Solicitors announces four promotions

NEWS
The Attorney General, Ellie Reeves KC MP, and Solicitor General, Andy Slaughter KC MP, marked the 25th anniversary of Pro Bono Week by joining lawyers, charities, students and parliamentarians at events celebrating voluntary legal work
Witness evidence can be compromised by AI before a solicitor sees the draft, leaving safeguards focused on authorship incomplete
Possession claims are entering a new digital era, with procedural traps awaiting practitioners who assume familiar rules still govern every step
A polished legal defence may owe more to artificial intelligence than legal merit—and creditors risk paying the price in delay and expense
An indemnity costs battle with a £20m gap could reopen an important question: what weight should an approved budget carry?
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