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22 November 2018 / Julian Acratopulo
Issue: 7818 / Categories: Features , Profession
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Uneasy lies the head that wears the crown

​In the face of ongoing uncertainty, Julian Acratopulo asks: is the pre-eminence of the London courts being disrupted?

  • The London courts have long been held up as the gold standard, but could market disruption, Brexit uncertainty and high costs threaten their supremacy?
  • Practitioners must engage with opportunities for reform if London’s courts are to remain at the forefront of the market.

Disruption is now present in every sphere of our lives. However, disruption does not stem solely from technology or business innovations—it is also influenced by demographic shifts, globalisation, macro-economic trends and more. Such terminology may not have existed at the time at which London’s courts forged their international reputation. However, whatever the terminology, the underlying factors which shaped the export of English law and London courts internationally could no doubt now be easily characterised by reference to those labels.

Accordingly, although English courts and procedures have long been the envy of the world, we need to be mindful of the risk of disruption, given the current socio-political environment. As

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MOVERS & SHAKERS

Constantine Law—Anita Vadgama

Constantine Law—Anita Vadgama

New senior partner hire at consultant-led employment / regulatory law firm

Ward Hadaway—Emma Swann & Jill Donabie

Ward Hadaway—Emma Swann & Jill Donabie

Firm adds two partners to growing education practice

mfg Solicitors—Lauren Collins, Emily Stancer & Sara Southall

mfg Solicitors—Lauren Collins, Emily Stancer & Sara Southall

Trio of newly qualified solicitors strengthens Worcester office law firm

NEWS
NLJ's latest Charities Appeals Supplement has been published in this week’s issue
The treasury has sought to reassure the legal profession over concerns about cost, bureaucracy and independence when the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) takes over regulation of anti-money laundering compliance
One out of two barristers has come under pressure from clients to act unethically, according to the results of this year’s Barristers’ Working Lives survey
The Court of Appeal has held the Competition Appeal Tribunal (CAT) was wrong to set aside a Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) decision on unfair pricing of phenytoin, an epilepsy drug
A flagship employment law reform is due to come into effect on 1 July, extending unfair dismissal rights to employees after six months in their job instead of two years
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