The commercial court' (Thomson Round Hall, 2007) Steven Dowling

• Author: Laurence K. Shields
• Position: Chairman, LK Shields Solicitors
• Pages: 241-244

2008] Book Review: “The Commercial Court” 241

BOOK REVIEW

“THE COMMERCIAL COURT”

(Thomson Round Hall, 2007)

Steven Dowling

LAURENCE K. SHIELDS

Mr. Justice Peter Kelly says in the forward “I cannot think

of any lawyer engaged in commercial litigation who would want

to admit to not having a copy of this book on their shelves”.

Having read Stephen Dowling’s book I would wholeheartedly

endorse Mr. Justice Peter Kelly’s view. It is not a book to be read

from cover to cover as I have done for this review but rather to be

a reference book to which those practising in commercial

litigation will revert again and again.

The author demonstrates enthusiasm, energy and erudition

in his treatment of the Commercial Court. He has undoubtedly

achieved the two objectives stated in his Preface. It is both a

comprehensive guide for practitioners on the Commercial Court

procedures and a broader analysis of the role that case

management plays within the framework of High Court case

procedure.

The Introduction commences with Lord Justice Bridge’s

observation that “brevity and simplicity are the hand-maidens of

justice, length and complexity its enemies”. In the following

chapters the book emphasises how the Commercial Court has

succeeded to a large measure in achieving brevity and simplicity

in its operation and curtailing the enemies of time and minimising

the complexity. This is a remarkable achievement in a relatively

short period of time, and much credit is due to the judges of the

Commercial Court, and in particular Mr. Justice Peter Kelly,

whose early Central Office experience combined with his

experience as a leading commercial practitioner and judge are

clearly to the forefront. Many of us, including the writer,

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 Chairman, LK Shields Solicitors.