User’s Guide to Recent Revisions in the Commercial Division Rules

This User’s Guide contains a summary of new rules and amendments to existing rules that have been enacted since the original publication of this User’s Guide in January of 2015.  For a complete list of the rules of the Commercial Division of the Supreme Court, please follow the link found here.

Since its formation in 1995, the Commercial Division has seen an increase in the number and complexity of cases being filed.  In response to this change, New York’s then Chief Judge created a Task Force on Commercial Litigation.  In 2012, the Task Force issued a series of reform proposals aimed at better managing judicial resources, encouraging greater use of non-judicial personnel and alternative dispute resolution, and increasing engagement with the corporate and academic communities and the Bar.  From these recommendations, new rules and amendments have been enacted during the 2014-16 period.

By Stephen P. Younger, Muhammad U. Faridi, and Patrick D. Gibson