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.