Under a new judicial listing policy, standard unfair dismissal cases will now be listed for a one-day hearing to be heard within 16 weeks. Standard directions will require parties to exchange documents six weeks after the claim is issued, with preparation of an agreed bundle by the respondent two weeks later and the exchange of witness statements ten weeks from issue. Parties will need to apply promptly to vary these directions if necessary.
The change makes it even more important that managers are aware of the need to respond promptly to a claim, to enable the tight timescale to be met.
The new policy will not apply to unfair dismissal claims combined with discrimination, whistleblowing or other complex claims.
Key contacts
Samantha Brown
Managing Partner, Employment, Pensions and Incentives, UK and EMEA, London
Steve Bell
Managing Partner, Employment, Industrial Relations and Safety, Asia and Australia, Melbourne
Emma Rohsler
Partner, Head of Employment, Pensions and Incentives, EMEA, Paris
Tim Leaver
Partner, London
Andrew Taggart
Partner, London
Fatim Jumabhoy
Partner, Head of Employment & Workplace Investigations, Asia, Singapore
Barbara Roth
Partner, New York
Christine Young
Partner, London
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