Lady Chief Justice Confirms Major High Court Restructuring

The structure of the High Court is set to undergo a significant reform with the creation of a new Business and Property Division. The change, confirmed on 2nd June 2026 in a joint announcement from the Lady Chief Justice and the Lord Chancellor, represents a modernisation of how business and property disputes will be managed in England and Wales.

Under the reforms, the new Business and Property Division will replace the Chancery Division and will sit alongside the King’s Bench Division and the Family Division.

What is changing?

The new division will bring together all of the Business and Property Courts (B&PCs) under a single divisional structure. The division will operate from the Rolls Building in London, as well as from regional centres in Birmingham, Bristol, Cardiff, Leeds, Liverpool, Manchester and Newcastle.

The new division will comprise, among others:

• The Commercial Court and Circuit Commercial Court
• The Technology and Construction Court
• The Admiralty Court
• The Business List and Financial List
• The Insolvency and Companies List
• The Intellectual Property List
• The Property, Trusts and Probate List
• The Competition List
• The Revenue List

These courts and lists are currently spread across both the King’s Bench and Chancery Divisions. Under the reform, they will continue to operate as they do now, retaining their established procedures and specialist expertise.

New Leadership

The new Business and Property Division will be led by a single Head of Division, known as the President of the Business and Property Division. The role will be undertaken by Sir Colin Birss, who was sworn in as Chancellor of the High Court in November 2025. The change in title and governance structure is expected to come into effect from October 2026, subject to the necessary legislative steps.

Why does this matter?

The reform is a judge‑led initiative, supported by the government, and is intended to:

• Improve clarity and access to justice by making it easier for court users to understand where to bring business and property disputes.
• Strengthen the international reputation of the Business and Property Courts by housing them within a single, coherent divisional framework.
• Simplify judicial governance by providing a single point of leadership for high‑value and complex civil litigation.
• Support flexible judicial deployment, ensuring that the right judge can be assigned to the right case more efficiently.

Baroness Carr of Walton‑on‑the‑Hill, the Lady Chief Justice, described the reform as building on the success of the Business and Property Courts and emphasised the need for a system that is easier to navigate:

“The legal system can sometimes feel complex, old‑fashioned and difficult to navigate… I want to do everything in my power to ensure that our courts are open and straightforward for anyone who needs their services.”

She added that the new division would provide greater clarity for users and strengthen accessibility to justice for all.

What does this mean in practice?

The new Business and Property Division is designed to provide a clearer and more accessible framework for handling complex disputes, while leaving the underlying law and procedure unchanged. The reform reflects a broader push towards efficiency and maintaining the UK’s international competitiveness in dispute resolution. Deputy Prime Minister and Lord Chancellor, David Lammy, has confirmed government support for the reform, describing it as a “historic modernisation” aimed at maintaining the UK’s position as a global hub for corporate and commercial litigation.

If you would like to discuss how these changes may affect your position, please contact a member of our Commercial Dispute Resolution team.