Portland’s annual Commercial Courts Report analyses judgments from the London Commercial Courts to identify notable trends – including the number of cases, litigants, nationality of parties involved in litigation and perceptions of the London courts internationally.
Complemented by expert analysis and commentary, we examine the appeal of London’s Commercial Courts to international litigants; this includes – Russia’s return to prominence; the number of UAE litigants reaching record highs; the continued ‘special relationship’ between the US and the UK in commercial litigation; and public perceptions of the role of artificial intelligence in the legal profession. For the second year, the report also includes an in-depth analysis of the media coverage received by Commercial Court cases over 2024-25.
The thirteenth Commercial Courts Report is available to download here
This year’s report reviewed 257 judgments handed down by the London Commercial Courts between April 2024 and March 2025. Portland’s analysis has found
1. A record-breaking year for diversity of nationalities represented
The London Commercial Courts have had a record year for litigant diversity, with ninety-three different nationalities represented – the highest ever recorded. This is the third consecutive increase year on year.
Sixty-two per cent of litigants were not from the UK. This is the second highest ratio of international to domestic parties recorded since data collection began.
2. A return to prominence for Russian litigants?
Since 2018, Portland’s report has found a sustained, strong presence of Russian litigants in the Commercial Court. Last year this number dropped dramatically.
But 2025 has seen a dramatic rebound, with 60 Russian litigants, the highest figure since our records began, up from 27 last year. 80% of Russian litigants had legal representation, up from just 30% in 2024. Just nine Russian parties appeared as claimants, compared to 51 as defendants, meaning that 85% of Russian litigants were on the defending side, the widest gap we’ve seen in recent years.
3. UAE litigants cement place in London’s Commercial Courts
For the second year in a row, the number of litigants from the UAE reached record highs, seeing a 106% increase over just two years and cementing its place among the top five non-UK nationalities appearing before the Commercial Courts, second only to the United States and ahead of Switzerland, Russia, and India.
Additionally, for the second time, Portland collected data on and analysed the media coverage of all 257 Commercial Court judgments recorded in this year’s report. Despite a slight decline in coverage, the findings demonstrate the wide variety of media publications that follow Commercial Court judgments.
The report also looks at the special relationship between the US and the UK in commercial litigation. The United States has consistently remained in the top five for the most common nationality of litigants bringing their disputes to London’s Commercial Courts. 2024-25 saw that trend remain intact, with the United States retaining their long-held seat in the top 5.
Portland’s exclusive polling on AI in the legal profession, building on last year’s data, offers a detailed picture of how the public thinks AI should (or shouldn’t) be used by lawyers and judges. The findings suggest that while awareness of AI has grown, attitudes toward its use in the legal system remain cautious, and in some cases, divided.
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The Commercial Courts Report is compiled by Portland’s Litigation and Disputes practice.
The practice provides specialist advice and strategic communications support to top-tier law firms around the world. We work to reinforce the legal strategy of lawyers undertaking complex or high-profile litigation. We can help ensure that every aspect of your client’s concerns are managed, and every potential advantage explored.
Since 2018, the team has been ranked Band One in Chambers and Partners Litigation Support Guide.
Please contact us at [email protected] for additional Commercial Courts data and analysis, or to learn more about how we can help.
