2024 has come and gone, and our Civil Litigation Annual Review has reached its fifth edition.

Throughout the past year, the courts have continued to grapple with the fallout of the Russian invasion of Ukraine and the sanctions imposed as a result. Significant progress has been made in the case management of large group litigation, and the sudden ubiquity of AI technology has led to a raft of novel issues for the courts to consider.

In addition to these matters, in this detailed annual review we consider some of the key cases and developments over the course of 2024 including:

• Key developments in company law, particularly those dealing with the personal liability of directors;
• Discussions of key contract cases, including notable judgments on force majeure and material adverse changes clauses, and a number of tort cases on unlawful means conspiracy;
• A substantial explanation of the key procedural developments throughout 2024, including updates to the Kings Bench and Chancery court guides, judicial guidance on how AI may be utilized in future proceedings, and cases examining how best to manage large group claims;
• Developments in ESG litigation sphere.