BCCI working group set for trial reform summit

A top-level summit is set to take place in the New Year to gather feedback on the post-BCCI reforms from the Aikens working party - more than two years after the first symposium on the subject. The group is set to meet on 26 January to discuss working party reforms, including ways of reducing the length and cost of trials, which have been road-tested during a trial due to finish at the end of November.

October 23, 2008 at 12:35 AM

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A top-level summit is set to take place in the New Year to gather feedback on the post-BCCI reforms from the Aikens working party – more than two years after the first symposium on the subject.

The group is set to meet on 26 January to discuss working party reforms, including ways of reducing the length and cost of trials, which have been road-tested during a trial due to finish at the end of November.

It is understood that a survey is set to be sent out to gauge opinion prior to the meeting.

Reforms intended to streamline complex litigation include drawing up a list of issues, limiting opening and closing speeches and reducing the length of witness statements.

The summit in January, which has been on the cards since the proposals were drawn up in December 2007 in the wake of the £100m BCCI court battle, comes after it emerged last month that the working party has so far failed to receive any substantive feedback from the profession.

The reforms follow an initial symposium, held in October 2006, involving high-profile figures from the City and judiciary as well as users of the commercial court.