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18 February 2021 / Mark Solon
Issue: 7921 / Categories: Features , Profession , Expert Witness , Technology
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Silent Witness(es)?

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The new Master of the Rolls promises civil justice shake-up. But what about the expert witnesses, asks Mark Solon
  • Where do expert witnesses fit into the incoming master of the rolls’ ‘radical rethink’ of civil justice?

The incoming Master of the Rolls (MR), Sir Geoffrey Vos QC, has indicated a ‘radical rethink’ of civil justice. His focus is on IT. 

He told the annual Bar Conference last year that international commerce ‘will be looking for dispute resolution mechanisms that are fit for new business methods which involve blockchain, cyber assets and artificial intelligence…the UK legal community needs to be ambitious in terms of digitalisation if it is to retain and enhance its status’. Showing his IT savvy, he added: ‘I hope that in my new role as head of civil justice I will be able to take a holistic look at civil justice...looking from one end at the 60 million disputes resolved annually by artificial intelligence on eBay, to the other end at the lengthy face-to-face trials that go on in the Rolls Building.’ 

Specialists

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MOVERS & SHAKERS

Shakespeare Martineau—Marie Bourke

Shakespeare Martineau—Marie Bourke

Shakespeare Martineau strengthens Sheffield regulatory practice with new hires

Sackers—Louise McRae & Annabella Hwang

Sackers—Louise McRae & Annabella Hwang

Sackers recruits new associates

McHale & Co—Shaun Little & Patrick Byrne

McHale & Co—Shaun Little & Patrick Byrne

Firm bolsters senior team with head of corporate and head of employment

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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