Senior Courts Of England And Wales Citation, commencement and interpretation 1 1 These Rules may be cited as the Civil Procedure (Amendment) Rules 2025 and come into force on 6th April 2025, subject to paragraph (2) and rule 2. 2 Rules 4 and 9 come into force on the date on which, and immediately after, section 194 of the Economic Crime and Corporate Transparency Act 2023 comes into force for all purposes. 3 In these Rules a reference to a Part or rule by number alone means the Part or rule so numbered in the Civil Procedure Rules 1998 . Transitional Provisions 2 1 The amendments made by rule 10 only apply to claims where the claim notification form or the letter of claim (as appropriate) is sent by the claimant on or after the 6th April 2025. 2 The amendments made by rule 17(1) only apply to proceedings in which a declaration has been made under section 6(2) of the Justice and Security Act 2013 on or after 6th April 2025. Amendments to the Civil Procedure Rules 1998 3 The Civil Procedure Rules 1998 are amended in accordance with rules 4 to 17 of these Rules. Amendment of Part 3 4 In rule 3.4(2)— a in sub-paragraph (b), at the end, omit “or”; b in sub-paragraph (c), at the end, for “.” substitute “; or” ; and c after sub-paragraph (c) insert— d that, in the case of a claimant’s statement of case— i the claim is strategic litigation against public participation, being a SLAPP claim within the meaning of section 195 of the Economic Crime and Corporate Transparency Act 2023; and ii the claimant has failed to show that it is more likely than not the claim would succeed at trial. (Rules 20.2 and 20.3 provide that counterclaims and other additional claims are treated as claims and that references to a claimant include a party bringing an additional claim.) . Amendment of Part 4 5 In rule 4— a renumber paragraphs (1) to (6) as paragraphs (2) to (7), respectively; b before what will become paragraph (2), insert— 1 In this Part, “ forms ” includes model orders, unless indicated otherwise. ; and c in what will become paragraph (5), after “or guidance it contains.” insert “This does not apply to model orders.” . Amendment of Part 23 6 In rule 23.8(3), for “If the court decides” to “to make representations”, substitute “If the court decides the application without a hearing under paragraph (1)(c) and does so in circumstances where the parties affected by the application have not had an opportunity to make representations about the substance of the application” . Amendment of Part 25 7 For Part 25 substitute Part 25 as set out in the Schedule to these Rules. Amendment of Part 42 8 In rule 42.2— a in paragraph (6)— i in the opening words, for “certificate of a person to whom legal aid is provided is revoked or”, substitute “determination that a person qualifies for civil legal services under Part 1 of the Legal Aid, Sentencing and Punishment of Offenders Act 2012 is” ; and ii in sub-paragraph (a), omit “24 or”; and b omit paragraph (7). Amendment of Part 44 9 In rule 44.2, after paragraph (8) insert— 9 In respect of a SLAPP claim, a court may not exercise its discretion so as to order a defendant to pay a claimant’s costs except where, in the court’s view, misconduct of the defendant in relation to the claim justifies such an order. 10 For the purposes of paragraph (9), a SLAPP claim is strategic litigation against public participation being a SLAPP claim within the meaning of section 195 of the Economic Crime and Corporate Transparency Act 2023. (Rules 20.2 and 20.3 provide that counterclaims and other additional claims are treated as claims and that references to a claimant or a defendant include a party bringing or defending an additional claim.) . Amendment of Part 45 10 In rule 45.62(2)— a in sub-paragraph (a), for “180” substitute “226” ; b in sub-paragraph (b)— i in paragraph (i), for “420” substitute “527” ; ii in paragraph (ii), for “360” substitute “451” ; iii in paragraph (iii), for “180” substitute “226” ; and iv in paragraph (iv), for “180” substitute “226” ; c in sub-paragraph (c)— i for “30” substitute “38” ; and ii for “80” substitute “100” ; d in sub-paragraph (d), for “50” substitute “63” ; and e in sub-paragraph (e), for “80” substitute “100” . Amendment of Part 49 11 In rule 49.1, after “described in them” insert “and may modify or disapply any provision of these Rules in connection with those proceedings” . Amendment of Part 52 12 After rule 52.6, in the second set of parentheses, for “25.15” substitute “25.29” . Amendment of Part 58 13 In rule 58.13(2)— a in sub-paragraph (b), at the end, for “.” substitute “; and” ; and b after sub-paragraph (b) insert— c rule 29.2(1A) (order or encourage to engage in alternative dispute resolution). . Amendment of Part 59 14 In rule 59.11(2)— a in sub-paragraph (a), at the end, omit “and”; b in sub-paragraph (b), at the end, for “.” substitute “; and” ; and c after sub-paragraph (b) insert— c rule 29.2(1A) (order or encourage to engage in alternative dispute resolution). . Amendment of Part 65 15 In rule 65.45(2) omit “under section 42(1)(b) of the 2009 Act”. Amendment of Part 74 16 In rule 74.5, for “section II” substitute “Section VI” . Amendment of Part 82 17 1 In rule 82.5— a before “Proceedings to which this section applies” insert “(1)” ; and b after what will now be paragraph (1) insert— 2 Subject to paragraph (3), Section II of Part 3 does not apply to proceedings in which a declaration has been made under section 6(2) of the Act. 3 When a declaration is made under section 6(2) of the Act— a a costs management order that has already been made shall not apply to any costs incurred after the declaration is made; and b the court may make any other order in relation to costs incurred before the declaration is made that it considers appropriate. . 2 In rule 82.23— a omit paragraph (2); b renumber the first occurrence of paragraph (3) as paragraph (2); c omit the second occurrence of paragraph (3); and d immediately below what will become paragraph (2) insert— (Rule 82.6 makes provision for hearings to be conducted in private.) . Sir Geoffrey Vos, MR Lord Justice Birss Mr Justice Pepperall Master Sullivan His Honour Judge Bird District Judge Clarke District Judge Johnson Isabel Hitching KC Tom Montagu-Smith KC Ben Roe Ian Curtis-Nye I allow these Rules Signed by authority of the Lord Chancellor Sarah Sackman Minster of State Ministry of Justice 30th January 2025