In a recent (online it is assumed) Commercial Court user group meeting it was apparently announced by Mrs Justice Cockerill that the Commercial Court is considering whether to adopt remote or hybrid hearings as the default.
Initially born of necessity, remote hearings (and the burgeoning industry surrounding them) have quickly become the new normal. Data published by HMCTS suggested that by mid April 2020 around 3,000 hearings were taking place on audio or video platforms each day with up to 90% of hearings proceeding on this basis. As the country starts to re-open there will inevitably be questions asked about what should be retained from this new normal.
