New guidance urges prompt updates on appeals and judicial reviews to improve case management
The Competition Appeal Tribunal (CAT) has issued new guidance reminding parties involved in proceedings that they must keep the Tribunal informed about appeals to higher courts and judicial review applications involving Tribunal decisions.
The guidance, published as Guidance Note 1/2026 on 14 July 2026, follows repeated instances where parties failed to notify the Tribunal when they sought permission to appeal or when appellate courts reached decisions on those applications.
The Tribunal said paragraph 8.32 of its Guide to Proceedings 2015 already requests that parties notify the Registrar whenever they apply for permission to appeal a Tribunal decision and when that permission is either granted or refused. However, it noted that this has not always happened in practice.
According to the guidance, failures to provide updates have required the Tribunal to make its own enquiries with the parties or the relevant court to establish the status of proceedings. The Tribunal said this has “invariably led to delay in the management of cases.”
For solicitors acting in CAT proceedings, the guidance reinforces the importance of promptly notifying the Tribunal whenever an application for permission to appeal is made and when the appellate court reaches a decision. The relevant order or ruling issued by the appellate court should be sent to the Registry as soon as it becomes available, helping to avoid unnecessary delays in case administration.
The guidance also addresses the position after an appellate court has issued a substantive judgment. In those circumstances, the non-confidential judgment should be provided to the Registry as soon as it is available. The Tribunal said this enables it to update the case status on its website and maintain a complete record of judgments relating to a case across all courts.
The same approach applies where a Tribunal decision is the subject of a judicial review application. Parties are expected to keep the Tribunal informed in the same way by providing timely updates and relevant court documents.
The guidance was issued by Charles Dhanowa, Registrar of the Competition Appeal Tribunal, and took effect on 14 July 2026. It serves as a reminder that timely communication with the Registry is expected not only as a matter of efficient case management but also as a matter of courtesy to the Tribunal.