UK courts' incorruptibility should be a point of pride

"The United Kingdom, the originator of the cherished Common Law legal tradition, has a proud reputation of judicial integrity. Recent changes to the global balance of power may limit the reach of the UK's courts, but their reputation for incorruptibility remains undimmed. In global rankings, the UK comes 15th out of 142 countries for overall rule of law, with judicial autonomy noted to be particularly strong according to the World Justice Project's 2023 Rule of Law Index."

"The former owners were found guilty of fraud with the High Court ruling in the bank's favour, holding the defendants' liable for close to the full amount. Irregularities in their defence - not least a failure to attend the trial - fully supported the court's decision. The High Court's supreme ability to scrutinise financial technicalities of a cross-border nature, covering Ukraine, Cyprus, and the British Virgin Islands, was noted widely in coverage of the ruling."

The United Kingdom originated the Common Law and retains a strong reputation for judicial integrity despite shifts in global power. Global rankings place the UK 15th out of 142 on overall rule of law, with particularly strong judicial autonomy in the World Justice Project's 2023 index. Transparency International ranks the UK 20th on the Corruption Perceptions Index, with deductions for public sector integrity while judging judicial independence excellent. London remains a global centre of justice where parties can expect transparency, consistency, impartiality, and expert, timely adjudication. A recent High Court judgment in JSC Commercial Bank PrivatBank v Kolomoisky secured a major fraud recovery and reinforced accountability in cross-border financial cases, supporting confidence in the Ukrainian banking sector.

Read at Business Matters