Master's Support Unit
Queens Bench Division Action Department, Masters' Support Unit and Foreign Process
Applications | Fees | Cancelling a Private Room Appointment | Hearings before the Masters | Daily List | Practice Master Standard Directions Order | Admiralty & Commercial Court - Specialist List | Clinical Negligence - Specialist List | Asbestosis related diseases - Specialist List | Contact Us
The Masters Support Unit provides administrative and clerical support for the Masters of the Queen's Bench Division in the High Court. It also deals listing general applications before the Masters either in chambers or as a private room appointment. This section is also responsible for arranging and notifying parties of their case management conferences before the Master; ensuring that the cases are brought on the appointed day before the Master and that all the necessary documents (court file etc.) are with the Master.
If documents are sent in by fax, it is not necessary to send in a hard copy, unless an order needs to be sealed. Please note, applications which require a fee will NOT be processed until the correct fee is
Applications
Applications can be dealt with on paper (without a hearing) or at hearing where one or more parties involved in a case are present.
Most applications are made on a standard application notice, N244 However there are certain special applications which have their own forms.
Further forms can also be downloaded.
- Any application requiring a hearing before a Master which is estimated to last for 30 minutes or less can be listed by the staff. These shorter hearings will take place in the Bear Garden lists in Room E102 or E110 in the mornings.
- Any application requiring a hearing before a Master which is estimated to last for more than 30 minutes will be listed by the Masters themselves. These longer hearings will take place in the Masters' private rooms and you will need to submit a private room appointment form at the same time as lodging the application.
- Applications not requiring a hearing are usually referred to the assigned Master for their consideration.
It is usual practice that applications lodged at the public counter are collected from the counter and those that are received by post are posted back. If you wish to make alternative arrangements, please discuss this when lodging your papers. If lodging paper at the counter, you should allow 2 to 3 days before returning to collect them. Please feel free to ring first to ask whether the papers are back before coming to the court to collect them.
Please note that applications for pre-action disclosure are dealt with in the Issue and Registry Section.
Fees
(FROM 1st OCTOBER 2007)
The usual fee for an application requiring a hearing is £75. (Previously £100)
The usual fee for an application that doesn't require a hearing is £40. (Previously £50)
Application to vary judgment or suspend enforcement £35. (Previously £50)
Cheques, postal orders and bankers drafts should be made payable to HMCS.
More information on Court fees.
Cancelling a Private Room Appointment
As PRAs are given by the Masters in their own diaries, only the Master can vacate a PRA. If you wish to cancel a PRA for any reason, you will need to complete a Cancellation of PRA form. Download Cancellation of PRA form (Word, 24Kb).
Hearings before the Masters
Please see the Hearings before Queen's Bench Masters guidance notes (Word, 269Kb). which explains more details about hearings before the Queen's Bench Masters.
Generally, the Court files are not present at any hearing before the Masters. It is the responsibility of the applying party to provide the Master with any relevant papers at the hearing. If you wish the file to be produced to the Master, you should make your request to the Registry on 020 7947 6336. You will need to give them the file number, the date of the hearing and the Master who will be taking the hearing.
Daily List
View the QB Masters' Daily List.It is hoped to publish the List for the following day by 11am. The List for the current day remains available all day.
Practice Master
Pursuant to paragraph 2.2. of Practice Direction 2 CPR Rule 2, a Practice Master is available to deal with urgent matters and other issues in relation to the practice and procedure of the Court. The Masters sit as Practice Master on a rota basis.
Download a copy of the Practice Master rota (Word,142Kb).
Standard Directions Order
At a Case Management Conference (CMC) the Masters will make various directions in relation to the progress of the case between the hearing date and the trial. Most Masters use a standard Order for Directions (PF52) (PDF, 12Kb). Some Masters have their own versions.
Admiralty & Commercial Court - Specialist List
Master Miller is the Admiralty Registrar. If you have a query in relation to the Admiralty and Commercial Court work, you will need to contact the Admiralty and Commercial Court directly as the QB Masters' Support Unit does not deal with this area of work. Contact the Admiralty & Commercial Court on: Room EB14, Royal Courts of Justice, Strand, London. WC2A 2LL. Telephone: 020 9749 6112. Fax 020 7947 6112.
Clinical Negligence - Specialist List
Master Ungley and Master Yoxall deal with Clinical Negligence cases. Download their agreed standard directions for use in Clinical Negligence cases (Word, 61.5 Kb).
Asbestosis related diseases - Specialist List
Master Whitaker deals with Mesothelioma and other asbestosis related diseases cases using a specially designed "fast-track" procedure.
Master Whitaker uses a modified PF52 for directions in asbestosis disease related cases (Word, 38Kb). Unless directed otherwise, Master Whitaker deals with his cases by telephone conference.
Contact Details
QB Masters' Support Unit
Room E16
Royal Courts of Justice
Strand
London
WC2A 2LL
DX 44450 Strand
Telephone: 020 7947 6312 / 6437
Fax: 020 7947 7339 (Applications which require a fee to be paid willl not be dealt with if received by fax)
(Defences which are faxed to the court must be sent to the Registry Section on 020 7947 6807)