The MCCBA is the lead sponsor for the champagne reception to mark the launch of the new Business & Property Courts in Birmingham. It has joined forces with the national specialist bar associations, COMBAR, the Chancery Bar Association and TECBAR. In addition, it is working closely with fellow sponsor Lexis-Nexis to publish a magazine on 6 July to mark the launch of the new courts in Birmingham.

Additional, very generous support has been given to this event by the High Sheriffs of the West Midlands, John Hudson OBE DL (2017/8) and Keith Bradshaw DL (2016/7) and by the Property Litigation Association.

Ed Pepperall QC, Chairman of the MCCBA, said: “The Association is delighted to be working with all of our fellow sponsors. We are particularly pleased to see the support so willingly given to regional specialist practice by the national specialist bar associations. Thanks also to Lexis-Nexis for deploying its professional publishing capability to support this event and to our other co-sponsors for their support. I look forward to a successful launch event and to the success of these new courts.”

It has now been confirmed that the Mercantile Courts are in for a makeover. The Victorian adjective goes as the courts are renamed the Commercial Circuit Courts. The name change is part of the reorganisation of the specialist courts in the wake of next month’s launch of the Business and Property Courts. The name is intended to be more intelligible. It appears to underline the close connections with London’s Commercial Court, while perhaps making only too clear that it is the junior partner. On the formal launch of the new court structure, Judge Worster will become the city’s first Commercial Circuit Judge. The MCCBA understands that Part 59 of the rules will be amended simply to effect the name change.

The Business and Property Courts in Birmingham will be formally opened by the Lord Chief Justice, the Rt Hon. Lord Thomas of Cwmgiedd, at 2.30pm on Thursday, 6th July 2017.

These new courts will combine the strengths of the Chancery Division in Birmingham with the specialist courts of the Queen’s Bench Division, Technology and Construction (TCC) and Mercantile, and will introduce flexible listing and modern procedures. . The courts will aim to meet three objectives:

• ensuring that each case is managed to deliver progress to trial without delay;
• trial by the most appropriate judge (whether a member of the resident specialist judiciary or a High Court Judge); and
• the provision of an efficient and effective service utilising modern technology to best advantage.

This innovation has been the result of the combined efforts of the HMCTS Birmingham, Regional and High Court teams and the local specialist judges and the Circuit and District Bench. The Midlands Chancery and Commercial Bar Association is very pleased to have been able to lend it support to the creation of the new Courts.

The Chancellor of the High Court and the President of the Queen’s Bench Division have prepared an explanatory statement regarding the new Business and Property Courts.