Guidance

Commercial Court hearing and trial dates

The earliest available dates (lead times) for hearings and trials at the Commercial Court, based on how long they are expected to last.

• From: HM Courts & Tribunals Service
• Published: 12 August 2015
• Last updated: 21 July 2021 — See all updates

The Commercial Court handles the most difficult and high value business disputes.

Smaller and less complex cases are handled by the Circuit Commercial Court which has its own lead times.

The lead times show how long the current wait for a hearing or trial is, based on how long they are expected to last.

Lead times for hearings and trials at the Commercial Court

Availability for applications and case management conferences

Length of hearing	Availability
30 minutes	29 October 2021 then Fridays from 19 November 2021
1 hour	29 October 2021 then Fridays from 19 November 2021
1.5 to 2 hours	29 October 2021 then Fridays from 19 November 2021
Half a day	29 October 2021 then Fridays from 19 November 2021
1 day	23 and 24 February 2022, week of 28 February then from 22 March 2022
2 days or more	From 4 April 2022

Availability for trials

Length of trial	Availability
1 to 2 days	From 4 April 2022
2 to 3 days	From 4 April 2022
1 week	From 4 April 2022
2 to 3 weeks	From 7 November 2022
4 weeks or more	From April 2023

Published 12 August 2015
Last updated 21 July 2021 + show all updates

1. 21 July 2021

   Updated lead times.

2. 19 July 2021

   Updated the lead times.

3. 1 July 2021

   Updated the lead times for hearings and trials.

4. 15 June 2021

   Updated lead times for hearings and trials.

5. 27 May 2021

   Updated lead times

6. 4 May 2021

   Hearing dates updated.

7. 25 February 2021

   Updated 25 February

8. 15 February 2021

   Updated 15 February.

9. 9 February 2021

   Updated 9 February

10. 26 January 2021

    Updated 26 January

11. 6 January 2021

    Updated 6 January

12. 14 December 2020

    Lead times updated.

13. 27 November 2020

    Times updated.

14. 9 November 2020

    Lead times updated.

15. 23 October 2020

    Updated 23 October.

16. 8 October 2020

    Updated as of 8 October 2020

17. 18 September 2020

    hearing and trial dates updated

18. 28 August 2020

    Return dates updated.

19. 6 August 2020

    Hearing and trial dates updated.

20. 24 July 2020

    Hearing and trial dates updated.

21. 30 June 2020

    Return dates for applications updated. 1 day now December 2020.

22. 23 June 2020

    Times updated.

23. 5 June 2020

    Times updated

24. 18 May 2020

    Slight amendment to information for 1-2 day trials.

25. 14 May 2020

    Updated lengths and dates of hearings.

26. 23 April 2020

    Times updated.

27. 6 April 2020

    Times updated

28. 17 March 2020

    Times updated.

29. 26 February 2020

    Times updated.

30. 18 February 2020

    Hearing and trial dates updated.

31. 12 February 2020

    Lead times updated.

32. 28 January 2020

    Page updated. No change to lead times.

33. 9 January 2020

    Times updated.

34. 20 December 2019

    Times updated

35. 2 December 2019

    Times updated

36. 15 November 2019

    List updated

37. 22 October 2019

    Times updated.

38. 27 September 2019

    Court hearing and trials dates updated.

39. 2 September 2019

    Updated 2 September 2019.

40. 7 August 2019

    Lists updated 7 August. No change to lead times.

41. 22 July 2019

    Updated lead times 22.7.19

42. 2 July 2019

    Updated return dates for applications 2.7.19

43. 18 June 2019

    Updated 18.6.19

44. 31 May 2019

    Updated lead times 31.5.19

45. 15 May 2019

    Court hearing and trial dates updated.

46. 29 April 2019

    Updated 29.4.19

47. 8 April 2019

    Updated 8.4.19

48. 15 March 2019

    Updated 15.3.19

49. 25 February 2019

    Updated 25.2.19

50. 5 February 2019

    Updated 5.2.19

51. 25 January 2019

    Updated 25.1.19

52. 3 January 2019

    Dates updated.

53. 7 December 2018

    Times updated 7 December 2018.

54. 16 November 2018

    Updated 16.11.18

55. 23 October 2018

    Dates amended 23.10.18

56. 1 October 2018

    Updated 01.10.18

57. 10 September 2018

    List updated 10 September 2018.

58. 23 August 2018

    Updated hearing dates for 23 August 2018.

59. 3 August 2018

    Updated 3.8.18

60. 27 June 2018

    Updated 27.6.18

61. 15 June 2018

    Updated times 14.6.18

62. 4 June 2018

    Updated times 4.6.18

63. 22 May 2018

    Updated times 22.5.18

64. 8 May 2018

    Updated times 8.5.18

65. 16 April 2018

    Updated lists 16.4.18

66. 29 March 2018

    Lead times updated.

67. 9 March 2018

    Updated times 9.3.18

68. 22 February 2018

    Updated times 22.2.18

69. 5 February 2018

    Waiting times updated 5.2.18.

70. 22 January 2018

    Updated times for 22.1.18

71. 4 January 2018

    Times updated on 4/1/17.

72. 18 December 2017

    Regular update.

73. 28 November 2017

    Regular update

74. 9 November 2017

    Regular update

75. 27 October 2017

    Regular update.

76. 4 October 2017

    Regular update.

77. 18 September 2017

    Regular update.

78. 29 August 2017

    Regular update

79. 7 August 2017

    Regular update

80. 3 July 2017

    Regular update

81. 19 June 2017

    Regular update

82. 5 June 2017

    Regular update

83. 15 May 2017

    Regular update.

84. 24 April 2017

    Regular update.

85. 3 April 2017

    Regular update

86. 15 March 2017

    Regular update.

87. 1 March 2017

    Regular update

88. 15 February 2017

    Regular update

89. 31 January 2017

    Regular update.

90. 3 January 2017

    Latest Update.

91. 24 November 2016

    Regular update.

92. 8 November 2016

    Regular update

93. 26 September 2016

    Regular update

94. 25 July 2016

    Regular update

95. 12 July 2016

    Regular update

96. 23 May 2016

    Regular update

97. 22 April 2016

    Regular update

98. 7 March 2016

    Regular update

99. 12 February 2016

    Hearings and trials updated.

100. 5 January 2016

     Regular update

101. 20 November 2015

     Regular update

102. 12 August 2015

     First published.