Lloyd's Maritime and Commercial Law Quarterly
BOOK REVIEWS
CIVIL APPEALS: Principle and Procedure. James Leadbeater, MA, Barrister, Lynne McCafferty, BA, Barrister, Sean O’Sullivan, MA, Barrister, and James Purchas, MA, Barrister, all of 4 Pump Court. Temple. Sweet & Maxwell, London (2010), lxxviii and 557 pp, plus 80 pp Appendices and 28 pp Index. ISBN 9780421960800. Hardback £159.
This single-volume textbook will be of general interest to all English civil law practitioners and in particular those who practice in the appellate field. The text covers the important area of appellate jurisdiction and practice in an area not previously and specifically covered by the main English texts.
The book is divided into logically separate sections including the historical background, general principles and practice and procedure of appeals. It contains in particular a very helpful synopsis of the time limits for various steps on appeal at paragraphs 15.083 et seq which bears close scrutiny.
The text deals, helpfully and separately, with the permission and substantive stages of appeal, It also deals with the difficult question of second appeals and the restrictions recently imposed upon such second appeals. For the commercial practitioner, appeals from arbitrations matters are also covered adequately for a general text.
The authors, who are each practising barristers, have had the good sense to employ plain English and have eschewed jargon and latinate terminology. Thus the book is also likely to be of interest to the non-professional who might consider launching an appeal.
Jonathan Chambers,