Lawyers told to write less in developer’s case

A British judge wants lawyers to write less in a case involving Irish property developer Patrick McKillen’s battle for a control of a £1bn (€1.16bn) firm that owns three of London’s top hotels.

Lady Justice Arden said length matters and costs will be reduced if documents are shorter. She said it was “really important” that courts are not “overburdened” with “extensive discursive” written arguments.

“What we are after is quality, not quantity, and small is beautiful,” she told barristers at a Court of Appeal hearing in London.