2021 was a year defined by economic and social recovery in the face of continued challenges and uncertainties presented by the pandemic. The English Courts have remained busy and resilient despite the challenges presented by the pandemic. It has been impressive to see how the English Courts and practioners have adapted to the “new normal”.

In this In Depth, we consider some of last year’s key developments in English civil litigation, including:

• An overview of some of the year’s pivotal decisions on company, contract, and tort law;
• A recap of the key developments relating to mass claims;
• A summary of new authorities on privilege and without prejudice correspondence;
• A round-up of the notable decisions on and updates to the Civil Procedure Rules, on everything from the Disclosure Pilot Scheme and witness statement reforms to expert’s duties and the judicial push in favour of Alternative Dispute Resolution;
• A review of the changes to service out of the jurisdiction, and noteworthy cases on jurisdiction;
• An analysis of decisions regarding state immunity and act of state; and
• An update on the Courts’ response to the Covid-19 pandemic.