A voluntary capped costs pilot runs from 14 January 2019 for two years in certain business and property courts for cases valued up to £250,000.

The pilot takes place in the London Circuit Commercial Court, and the business and property courts in Manchester and Leeds (Chancery, Circuit Commercial, and the Technology and Construction Court).

The pilot was recommended by Sir Rupert Jackson as part of his July 2017 report on extending fixed recoverable costs in civil cases. 

The scheme is effectively a pilot for cases with a monetary value of £100,000 to £250,000, and aims to:

  • streamline court procedures
  • lower litigation costs
  • increase the certainty of costs exposure
  • speed up claims resolution.

It is based on the capped costs regime in the Intellectual Property and Enterprise Court. 

The Ministry of Justice has issued a summary of the pilot.