Judge David Mackie QC has been selected as the first head of the London Mercantile Court, which opens its doors today (17 October) in an effort to resolve less complex cases more quickly.
Mackie, the former head of Allen & Overy’s litigation practice before he became a judge two years ago, will head up the new court which is situated at the Royal Courts of Justice.
The London Mercantile Court has been established under new rules which came into effect on 1 October.
Judges will hear cases that do not need to be tried by High Court judges in the Commercial Court, as well as mercantile cases on the south-eastern circuit.
Mackie is to work closely with the Commercial Court to assign cases to particular judges. South-eastern mercantile judge Brian Knight QC as well as circuit judges and QCs sitting as deputy judges will also hear cases in the court.
