Royal Bank of Scotland's litigation chief Stephen Pearson and Lovells partner Graham Huntley have been named in the high-level BCCI working party charged with drawing up reforms to avoid high-cost court collapses.

The two were confirmed today (23 November) as members of the eight-strong committee, chaired by Mr Justice Aikens, to draw up reforms to speed up complex commercial litigation.

The inclusion of Pearson will be seen as a symbolic move to bring the clients' perspective into court reform at a time when the cost of commercial litigation has become a highly-charged issue.

As revealed in Legal Week today (see story), the president of the London Solicitors Litigation Association, Clifford Chance partner Simon Davis, and the chairman of the Commercial Bar Association, Robin Knowles QC, are also on the committee.

Other members of the group are Mrs Justice Gloster and two junior barristers – Brick Court Chambers' Alec Haydon and Alison Padfield of Devereux Chambers.

The working party was set up by Mr Justice Steel after a high-profile litigation 'summit' in October to debate measures to avoid controversial civil court collapses like BCCI and Equitable Life.

The group will specifically look at measures to amend the Admiralty and Commercial Court Guide and measures to beef up enforcement of the current rules.