United Kingdom: Litigation, Mediation & Arbitration

The Commercial Court has ruled that legal advice privilege extends beyond communications between clients and lawyers to include internal client communications and documents created for the purpose of seeking legal advice.

A recent English court judgment reveals how poorly drafted dispute resolution clauses can generate costly satellite litigation. The case examines whether parties intended arbitration to be compulsory and whether mediation was a mandatory precondition, highlighting the perils of imprecise contract drafting and the importance of clear escalation procedures.

On 22 April 2026 at Winchester Crown Court the jury found Christopher Trybus not guilty of manslaughter, rape and controlling and coercive behaviour against his wife Tarryn.