As Brexit disarray continues, lawyers need to embrace change to ensure the City retains its crown as the first choice for international disputes, the president of the London Solicitors Litigation Association (LSLA) has said.
Speaking at the LSLA annual dinner this week, Julian Acratopulo (pictured), who is also a partner at Clifford Chance, called on members to welcome the disclosure pilot, which is due to launch in the business and property courts on 1 January. It aims to find ways to cope with enormous growth in electronic data, which makes disclosure a lengthy and complicated process.
Acratopulo said: ‘The LSLA is encouraged by the amount of judge-led reform occurring in the sector and one example has been disclosure.
‘Whilst the London courts are preeminent, this is not a given for the future. It is the responsibility of all litigators to engage with the current reforms and provide their feedback.
‘Whilst the legal profession is not necessarily under immediate threat from digital innovation, artificial intelligence or robots, it is clear that competitive disruption remains a real and immediate risk. We need to make sure our system is match-fit for the 21st century, not least as our clients, the end users, are demanding it.’
Guest speaker Ian Forrester QC spoke about his perspectives on Brexit given his role as judge of the General Court of the EU.
Four out of five litigators thought the government should take action urgently, or very urgently, to protect London’s status as a pre-eminent litigation forum, in an LSLA survey in October. The majority thought there wold be a significant flight of work from London in the coming years.
