Two commercial dispute courts to be set up

Dedicated courts dealing with commercial disputes are to be established at Hamilton and Airdrie Sheriff Courts.

Sheriffs Millar and Small (Hamilton) and Sheriffs Thomson and Livingston (Airdrie) have been designated as commercial sheriffs with effect from Monday

A new practice note has been issued to reflect this change.

Chapter 40 of the Ordinary Cause Rules provides that a commercial action may be raised only in a sheriff court where the Sheriff Principal for the Sheriffdom has directed that the procedure should be available.

Sheriff Principal of South Strathclyde, Dumfries and Galloway, Aisha Anwar, said: “The commercial cause rules provide parties with an opportunity of securing a speedier, more creative, and cost-effective means of resolving commercial disputes. Robust judicial case management allows the issues to be focussed at an early stage and the procedure to be tailored to the issues of fact or law which require to be resolved.   

"A number of sheriffs in South Strathclyde, Dumfries and Galloway have a background in commercial and civil litigation. Their considerable expertise and experience will significantly improve the efficient disposal of commercial actions and disputes of a business nature.”

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