The formation of a new business and property division of the High Court has today been confirmed by the lady chief justice.
As had been rumoured, the ‘historic’ modernisation will see the new division operate out of the London's Rolls Building (and in Birmingham, Bristol, Cardiff, Leeds, Liverpool, Manchester and Newcastle), replacing the Chancery Division. It will comprise the Commercial Court, the Technology and Construction Court and the Admiralty Court, which are presently within the King’s Bench Division, as well as the Business list, Financial list, Competition list, Insolvency and Companies list, Intellectual Property list, Property, Trusts and Probate listand the Revenue list.
It is hoped that the judge-led reform, supported by the government, will ‘unify the group of specialist civil courts which handle high-value, complex and often international litigation’.
The structure will aim to improve access to justice and strengthen the ‘leading international reputation’ of the Business and Property Courts.
The changes, the announcement added, will ‘support flexible judicial deployment and simplify how business and property cases are managed, ensuring that the right judge can be assigned to each case’.
Chancellor of the High Court Sir Colin Birss, who was sworn in as chancellor in November 2025, will assume the title of president of the Business and Property Division. The role is expected to come into effect from October.
The changes will not affect the wider structure of the King’s Bench Division or the existing courts and High Court lists.
Baroness Carr of Walton-on-the-Hill said that the Business and Property Division’s creation was ‘building on the success of the Business and Property courts’.
She said: ‘The legal system can sometimes feel complex, old-fashioned and difficult to navigate. It may be easy for those of us who are long in the tooth to understand, but I want to do everything in my power to ensure that our courts are open and straightforward for anyone who needs their services.’
The change, Carr said in a video announcement, will 'provide greater clarity for users and strengthen accessibility of justice for all’.
She added: ‘The creation of the Business and Property Division more accurately reflects the requirements of people and businesses today. Its clearer structure improves access to civil justice and reinforces the country’s position as a leading global centre for dispute resolution, crucially supporting economic growth as well.’
Deputy prime minister and lord chancellor David Lammy said: ‘The government is pleased to support a judiciary-led initiative to modernise the structure of the High Court through the establishment of a new Business and Property Division. This historic modernisation will ensure the UK remains a global hub for corporate litigation.
‘This reform is intended…support economic growth by strengthening the international profile and accessibility of these courts, thereby reinforcing the UK’s position as a leading global dispute resolution centre; improve access to justice through clearer structures and a more intuitive framework for domestic and international court users; and strengthen judicial governance by providing a single point of leadership.
‘Changes will be made through an order in council which will be laid in parliament in due course, alongside updates to the Civil Procedure Rules, practice directions and associated court materials.’
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