Disputes Yearbook 2025
The view from London 

2025 has been another eventful year for commercial disputes. Class actions have continued to make the news, with some very large group actions progressing through the courts. The Supreme Court has given judgments relating to broker commissions in motor finance cases and the scope of the Building Safety Act. There have also been important decisions relating to Russian aviation insurance claims, the impact of sanctions, and environmental litigation. And, like the rest of society, the courts have had to grapple with challenges posed by the use of AI, including cases in which parties cited fake authorities. 

On the legislative front, the Arbitration Act 2025 has brought in important changes, the new offence of failure to prevent fraud has come into force, and a Bill is before Parliament that would further expand corporate criminal liability. The government has proposed a package of regulatory changes for the financial services industry known as the Leeds Reforms, and the government's response is awaited to key recommendations from the Civil Justice Council for the regulation of litigation funding. 

An important international convention for the enforcement of judgments, the Hague Judgments Convention 2019, has come into force for the UK and the government has consulted on implementing the Singapore Convention on Mediation.

This is just a snapshot of the major themes in disputes over the last year. You can read insights from our London disputes team on these topics as well as other major developments below.