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22 July 2020 / Grania Langdon-Down
Issue: 7896 / Categories: Features , Profession , Covid-19
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Litigating through lockdown

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How did the commercial litigation world cope when it had to go digital almost overnight? Grania Langdon-Down reports

Four months after the country was told to work from home, commercial litigators are starting to return to offices and court.

‘We all just want the lockdown restrictions to end but getting back to the office is going to be complex and slow—but isolating isn’t good for the soul,’ says senior litigator and NLJ consultant editor David Greene. He warns the stress caused by the pandemic and its fall out must be addressed as firms and chambers look for a path out of the crisis.

But Greene, senior partner at Edwin Coe, and fellow litigators across the legal community say there have also been some very positive lessons from the lockdown which they hope will lead to lasting change, including an improved work/life balance.

So how did the commercial litigation world cope when it had to go digital almost overnight?

Essential service

As COVID-19 tightened its grip on the UK, the government made

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MOVERS & SHAKERS

EIP—Stuart Malcolm

EIP—Stuart Malcolm

EIP strengthens Commercial practice with a new partner

Ellisons—Francesca Brown

Ellisons—Francesca Brown

Ellisons welcomes Francesca Brown to Family team

Shakespeare Martineau—Marie Bourke

Shakespeare Martineau—Marie Bourke

Shakespeare Martineau strengthens Sheffield regulatory practice with new hires

NEWS
A wide-ranging Civil Way column highlights developments from insolvency procedure to employment law, but one case stands out for its lessons on bankruptcy, family homes and digital communications
A sprawling Intellectual Property Office battle between House of Fraser and Frasers Property has delivered a masterclass in modern trade mark law
Courts in England and Wales and Singapore are increasingly confronting complex disputes over international child relocation as families become more globally mobile
The government’s long-awaited family law reform consultation could mark a turning point for domestic abuse victims navigating financial remedy proceedings, but significant challenges remain
A new commercial court pilot giving the public access to documents used in hearings, including expert reports, is raising difficult questions about transparency and privacy
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