The Circuit Commercial Courts deal with commercial and business disputes which are suitable for a specialist Judge, but lower in value or less complex (or both) than cases typically heard in the Commercial Court. The Circuit Commercial Courts will deal with any case which is suitable for the High Court, relates to a commercial or business matter in a broad sense, and will benefit from the expertise of a Circuit Commercial Judge. The range of business is wide.
A key feature of the Circuit Commercial Courts is that they are based in different areas of England & Wales. This means that smaller commercial cases with regional connections can be tried locally by a Judge with commercial law experience, saving the parties the additional costs of having to go to London for trial. The first Courts were established in Manchester and Liverpool in 1990. They were given the name “Mercantile Courts” in 1992, but this was changed to “Circuit Commercial Courts” after the the Civil Procedure Rules came into force. There are now regional Circuit Commercial Courts for the Midlands, the North-East, North-West, the South-West, and Wales, and Courts sit in Birmingham, Bristol, Cardiff (also sitting at Mold and Wrexham), Leeds, Liverpool, Manchester, and Newcastle. There is also a London Circuit Commercial Court, which is located in the Rolls Building, alongside the Commercial Court.
The Judges of the Circuit Commercial Courts are Senior Circuit Judges who are selected for their experience of commercial work. However, the Circuit Commercial Courts are part of the Queen’s Bench Division of the High Court, not part of the County Court. This means that the Judges sit as additional Judges of the High Court when they are hearing Circuit Commercial Court cases.
Bristol Circuit Commercial Court at the Bristol Civil Justice Centre
Newcastle Circuit Commercial Court at the Moot Hall
In order to maintain strong links between the Commercial Court and the Circuit Commercial Courts, the Judge in charge of the Commercial Court is also in charge of the Circuit Commercial Courts. Commercial Court Judges will hear more substantial cases in the Circuit Commercial Courts when appropriate, to facilitate and encourage local resolution of regional commercial disputes,
The Circuit Commercial Courts follow practices and procedures similar to those of the Commercial Court, but they have their own Guide. The Civil Procedure Rules contain special provisions for the Circuit Commercial Courts in Part 59 and Practice Direction 59.