Dr Rachel Segal of St John’s Chambers has published the 2025 edition of the Denton Resource – an invaluable time-saving research aid for civil lawyers called upon to advise on, argue or determine relief from sanctions applications.
About the resource
This publication provides brief, easily searchable summaries of each relevant authority in thematic sections and will help the reader decide whether to delve deeper into the full judgment. The Denton Resource now has a big following including judges, solicitors, barristers, legal academics, Bar students, and legal bloggers. Each recent edition has been downloaded thousands of times.
This latest edition of the Denton Resource includes 40 new relevant higher authorities on relief from sanctions, reported up to and including 31 December 2024. Those new to the Resource will see that it is organised into thematic sections relevant to the circumstances of, or stage of litigation at which the breach occurred. The columns are organised around the criteria set out in Denton v White [2014] EWCA Civ 906, i.e.:
- to identify and assess the seriousness and/or significance of the breach;
- to consider whether there was a good reason for the default;
- to evaluate all the circumstances of the case so as to enable the court to deal justly with the application (including the need (a) for litigation to be conducted efficiently and at proportionate cost; and (b) to enforce compliance with rules, Practice Directions and court orders).
About Rachel:
Rachel is ranked as a leading junior in the legal directories for personal injury, clinical negligence and inquests.
In addition to her above subject specialisms, she is sought after to advise and represent parties on civil procedural matters, including relief from sanctions across the spectrum of civil litigation. Rachel publishes The Denton Resource annually and delivers training on the topic. Find out more here.
Rachel and Andrew McLaughlin discuss relief from sanctions in a podcast from our Personal Injury and Clinical Negligence series. They share insights arising from the Court of Appeal’s guidance in Warren v Yesss (A) Electrical Limited (in which Andrew appeared) as to the circumstances in which CPR 3.9 applies, and their thoughts about the application in practice of the Denton criteria more generally. Listen here.