England and Wales Case Law

STLC Europe Thirteen Leasing Limited v Qatar Airways Group QCSC

The court held that the claimant's proposed categories of confidential information relating to OFAC and US State Department communications are justified for inclusion in the confidentiality ring order due to their sensitivity and potential for harm if disclosed. The court rejected the defendant's proposals to impose additional liability and restrictions on confidentiality ring members as unduly onerous and unjustified, but accepted the defendant's proposed security measures as reasonable and proportionate. The court determined that requests for details of protective measures must be reasonabl…

Source excerpt

• Confidentiality ring
• Disclosure
• Sanctions
• Aircraft leasing

Read case analysis

Persons Identified in Schedule 1 v Standard Chartered plc

Defendant failed to demonstrate any real risk of criminal prosecution or civil enforcement action by US or Singapore regulators for disclosure of relevant documents pursuant to an English Court order. The documents are relevant and necessary for a fair trial. Disclosure will be ordered, subject to a confidentiality ring including Claimant and funder representatives, not limited to external lawyers only.

Source excerpt

• Dispensation from disclosure
• Confidentiality ring
• Foreign law restrictions
• Comity
• Risk of prosecution
• Civil enforcement sanctions

Read case analysis

Lime Technology Ltd v Liverpool City Council (Re Costs)

Lime Technology Ltd v Liverpool City Council (Re Costs) [2025] EWHC 2037 (TCC) (31 July 2025)

The High Court declined to summarily assess costs for a confidentiality ring and specific disclosure application, ordering detailed assessment and £100,000 on account.

• Costs assessment
• Confidentiality ring
• Specific disclosure
• Costs-assessment
• Summary-assessment
• Detailed-assessment

Read case analysis

IBM United Kingdom Ltd v LzLabs GmbH & Ors

IBM United Kingdom Ltd v LzLabs GmbH & Ors [2023] EWHC 2142 (TCC) (24 August 2023)

The court partly granted and partly refused disclosure and confidentiality applications in IBM’s dispute with LzLabs and Winsopia, including adding custodians and admitting support personnel to the inner ring.

• Disclosure
• Confidentiality
• Breach of contract
• Injunctive relief
• Document designation
• Custodian selection

Read case analysis

Geodesign Barriers Ltd v The Environment Agency

Geodesign Barriers Ltd v The Environment Agency [2015] EWHC 1121 (TCC) (29 April 2015)

The court ordered limited early disclosure in a procurement challenge, including evaluation-related emails and rival bids, but refused some requested documents, identities, and future amendments.

• Specific disclosure
• Tender evaluation
• Confidentiality ring
• Amendment of pleadings
• Public contracts regulations 2006
• Public-procurement

Read case analysis

Geodesign Barriers Ltd v The Environment Agency

In a procurement dispute, the court ordered limited specific disclosure, refused disclosure of some categories and identities of rival tenderers, and allowed one expert into the confidentiality ring.

• Specific disclosure
• Tender evaluation
• Confidentiality ring
• Amendment of pleadings
• Specific-disclosure
• Public-procurement

Read case analysis

Roche Diagnostics Ltd v The Mid Yorkshire Hospitals NHS Trust

Roche Diagnostics Ltd v The Mid Yorkshire Hospitals NHS Trust [2013] EWHC 933 (TCC) (19 April 2013)

The court ordered partial specific and pre-action disclosure in a public procurement dispute over tender evaluation and an interim contract at Dewsbury.

• Specific disclosure
• Pre-action disclosure
• Tender evaluation
• Confidentiality ring
• Public contracts regulations 2006
• Specific-disclosure

Read case analysis

Roche Diagnostics Ltd v The Mid Yorkshire Hospitals NHS Trust

The court granted limited specific and pre-action disclosure in a procurement challenge, focusing on contemporaneous evaluation records and the interim Abbott contract.

• Specific disclosure
• Pre-action disclosure
• Tender evaluation
• Confidentiality ring
• Interim contract
• Specific-disclosure

Read case analysis

Mohammed, R (On the Application Of) v The Secretary of State for Defence

Mohammed, R (On the Application Of) v The Secretary of State for Defence [2012] EWHC 3454 (Admin) (18 December 2012)

The court held that, in principle, documents could be disclosed to a confidentiality ring during a PII exercise, where counsel consented and the arrangement did not harm the claimant's case.

• Public interest immunity
• Confidentiality ring
• Disclosure
• Open justice
• Fair trial
• Judicial review procedure

Read case analysis