As I ripped into the report it soon became clear that the man had pulled it off.
I will never forget Thursday 14 January 2010. The day began with a “lock-in” at the Court of Appeal but no liquor in sight. At 0930 a herd of anoraks were allowed the privilege of being shut in a room to read the final conclusions of Sir Rupert Jackson, a year after he had taken on the impossible task of restructuring our costs regime, which was a ghastly mess. As I ripped into the report it soon became clear that the man had pulled it off.
It is an inevitability of my work that I regularly read reports and judgments. What Jackson LJ has produced is lucid, reasoned and stunning. I read the final report until my eyes ached. It is traditional for those who author reports to invite comment. The Jackson masterstroke was to get out on the road and canvass opinions from all who attended.
