Businesses wary of trial by TV

THREE-quarters of British businesses are ready to quit the public glare of the courtroom for their legal disputes should the Government press ahead with radical plans to televise cases.

Research from one of the City's largest firm of solicitors into the planned shake-up shows that nearly a third of businesses are more likely to reach out-of-court settlements in order to keep a lid on their commercial spats.

With one month to go before the close of consultation on the plans, research from lawyers CMS Cameron McKenna shows that nearly a third of businesses are worried that TV coverage will harm their reputations and risk disclosing commercially-sensitive information.

Almost half of companies surveyed who would normally use public courts were more likely to use confidential means of resolving disputes such as arbitration, should TV cameras be allowed in.

CMS partner Charles Spragge warned that a greater move to arbitration "risks commercial law falling behind developments in the world of business'.

Rulings known as case law help develop and explain primary legislation, whereas arbitration rulings do not.