header-logo header-logo

20 January 2023 / Philip Sinel
Issue: 8009 / Categories: Features , Profession , Legal services , International
printer mail-detail

Litigating across the Channel: is it better offshore?

106982
What could the English court system learn from its counterparts overseas? Philip Sinel runs through some areas for improvement
  • In the courts of England and Wales, while hearings generally progress smoothly and effectively once underway, the process of getting to court in the first place can often be held up by errors and oversights.
  • On the other hand, hearings offshore tend to be slightly less uniform in approach, but in many cases they can get underway quicker, and turnover seems lower.

Being based offshore, though often litigating in England and further abroad, I have a good vantage point to compare the service of some offshore courts to those of England and Wales.

Errors abound

Our experience of the latter is that once in court, things normally progress smoothly and as expected. Progress of hearing is effective, straightforward, and generally uniform in approach.

Getting to those hearings is a different matter. Court bundles are sent to the email address so ordered, but we need

If you are not a subscriber, subscribe now to read this content
If you are already a subscriber sign in
...or Register for two weeks' free access to subscriber content

MOVERS & SHAKERS

Katten Muchin Rosenman—Charlotte Hill

Katten Muchin Rosenman—Charlotte Hill

Katten strengthens financial markets and funds group in London

Hugh James—Keith Cundall & Lee Hart

Hugh James—Keith Cundall & Lee Hart

Hugh James expands national Serious Injury team with two new Partners

HFW—Rémi Ducloyer

HFW—Rémi Ducloyer

HFW continues Paris office growth with public law Partner hire

NEWS
The Court of Appeal's decision in Mazur v Charles Russell Speechlys LLP has lifted months of uncertainty for Chartered Legal Executives while prompting a rethink of regulation and supervision
The assisted dying debate returns to Westminster as Lauren Edwards MP reintroduces legislation that stalled in the House of Lords last session despite clearing the Commons
A little-noticed provision of the Crime and Policing Act 2026 has fundamentally expanded corporate criminal liability
Artificial intelligence is transforming legal practice, but careless reliance on it is creating growing professional risks
The law offers cohabiting couples surprisingly greater protection after one partner dies than when they separate during life
back-to-top-scroll