The 57th Update to the Civil Procedure Rules (who remembers the good old days of the 16th Update?) introduces changes in a number of areas. Most of these come into force on 1 October 2011.

The first one relevant to costs law is the amendment to Part 36 formally reversing Carver v BAA. The change being:

In Part 36, after rule 36.14(1) insert—“(1A) For the purposes of paragraph (1), in relation to any money claim or money element of a claim, “more advantageous” means better in money terms by any amount, however small, and “at least as advantageous” shall be construed accordingly.”.