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Party meaning

What does Party mean?
In legal practice, a party is any natural or legal person who brings, defends, or is otherwise directly involved in court or tribunal proceedings. This includes those named at the outset (for example, claimant/defendant in England and Wales; pursuer/defender in Scotland; plaintiff/defendant or applicant/respondent in Northern Ireland and Ireland), as well as any person who is served with notice of the proceedings, joined by order of the court, or permitted to intervene (such as an interested party in judicial review, or a notice party in Ireland). Appellate proceedings use appellant/respondent; petitions may use petitioner/respondent. “Party” is a descriptive procedural term used across jurisdictions, with detailed terminology and scope set by court rules and relevant statutes. Core features include: standing (locus standi), capacity (for example, minors acting by a litigation friend; companies and partnerships acting through authorised persons), service of proceedings, and case management powers for addition, removal, substitution and joinder of parties. Party status determines procedural rights and obligations, including the right to be heard, disclosure, settlement, judgment, and exposure to or entitlement to costs. Usage is broadly consistent across England and Wales, Scotland, Northern Ireland and Ireland, subject to the terminology noted above.
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View the related Checklists about Party

CHECKLISTS
Design licence agreements: drafting and negotiation checklist for licensors and licensees

How to use this Checklist This Checklist flags issues that frequently emerge when negotiating and drafting the following agreement types: Design licence—pro-licensor Design licence—pro-licensee For further reading on design licensing, see these Practice Notes: Introduction to designs UK registered and unregistered designs Licensing intellectual property rights For example character merchandising agreements, consult the Precedents: Character merchandising agreement—pro-licensor and Character merchandising agreement—pro-licensee. For details of the key terms commonly found in a manufacturing agreement and designs licence, see: Manufacturing agreement and design licence—checklist. This Checklist can also, where appropriate, operate as the foundation for a straightforward non-binding heads of terms. For guidance on doing so, see Precedent: Heads of terms—commercial contracts. For support on negotiating an IP licence clause, refer to Practice Note: Negotiation guide—intellectual property licence clause. Checklist schedule for proposed licence of designs Points to consider • Further information • Notes (if any) (A) Key commercial considerations...

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CHECKLISTS
Arbitration funding and third-party finance: practitioner checklist on options, funder engagement, confidentiality, champerty, disclosure and security for costs

When considering an arbitration, you should consider: how the dispute will be financed and managed overall can the client realistically cover your professional fees together with the arbitration expenses? could another party or source be prepared to pick up the entire bill? is any relevant insurance already in place and available? would after-the-event insurance cover be an appropriate option? might your firm accept a conditional fee arrangement, a damages-based agreement, or some other funding structure? See Funding Arrangements—Overview (note: this link is not arbitration-specific) is the client open to exploring third-party funding? ...

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CHECKLISTS
Corporate Mortgages: Practitioners' Checklist on Capacity, Due Diligence, Documentation, Priority and Registration (England and Wales)

Scope of this Checklist This Checklist sets out the points to consider when a company is proposing to grant a mortgage. It proceeds on the basis that an English or Welsh company will be granting a mortgage to a lender situated in England or Wales. In this Checklist: the company granting the mortgage is the 'mortgagor' the party to whom the mortgage is granted is the 'mortgagee' the document recording the mortgage is the 'security document' Preliminary questions before taking security by way of a mortgage Is a mortgage the right method of taking security? A mortgage transfers title to the asset, while preserving the mortgagor's equity of redemption so that, once sums due have been paid in full, title can be transferred back to the mortgagor (note that some mortgages, such as over land, are statutory, meaning there is no transfer of title). The use and possession of the asset will remain with...

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FLOWCHARTS
Data Subject Requests to Restrict Processing under the UK GDPR and DPA 2018: Practitioner Flowchart on Grounds, Exemptions, Refusals and Third-Party Notifications

This diagram mirrors HMRC’s Flowchart 4, set out at paragraph 5.24 of the Guidance Note on residence, domicile and the remittance basis (RDR1). It is for use when a taxpayer clearly plans to depart the UK in the future...

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FLOWCHARTS
Unopposed business tenancy renewal under the Landlord and Tenant Act 1954: notices, statutory periods and Part 8 procedure (England and Wales)

Under the Landlord and Tenant Act 1954 (LTA 1954), a business lease carries on automatically after the end of the contractual term if the tenant remains in occupation for business purposes. Either party can bring those statutory rights to an end by serving one of the prescribed termination notices. This flowchart explains the steps for an unopposed business lease renewal under the LTA 1954. For the procedure where renewal is opposed, see: LTA 1954 opposed lease renewal procedure—flowchart. For further detail on LTA 1954 security of tenure and the court process, consult Practice Notes: LTA 1954 business lease renewal—proceedings and LTA 1954 business lease renewal—termination. Note 1 Diarise a date at least 12–18 months before the contractual expiry of the existing lease. See Practice Note: LTA 1954 business lease renewal—termination. Note 2 Information must be supplied within one month of service of the notice. A party is obliged to correct any information provided for six months after receiving the notice. This applies to both parties equally...

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FLOWCHARTS
Flowchart: process to exercise step-in rights under a collateral warranty

The defined terms in the flowchart shall have the following meaning: Appointed Representative Regulations — the Financial Services and Markets Act 2000 (Appointed Representatives) Regulations 2001, SI 2001/1217 Business Order — the Financial Services and Markets Act 2000 (Carrying on Regulated Activities by Way of Business) Order 2001, SI 2001/1177 Exemption Order — the Financial Services and Markets Act 2000 (Exemption) Order 2001, SI 2001/1201 Non-Exempt Activities Order — the Financial Services and Markets Act 2000 (Professions) (Non-Exempt Activities) Order 2001, SI 2001/1227 PRA-regulated activities — denotes regulated activities designated as PRA‑regulated activities under the Financial Services and Markets Act 2000 (PRA‑regulated Activities) Order 2013, SI 2013/556 RAO — the Financial Services and Markets Act 2000 (Regulated Activities) Order 2001, SI 2001/544 UCITS qualifier — carries the meaning attributed to it in the Glossary of the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) Handbook To determine whether an activity is regulated, follow the flowchart below. Click below to view or print...

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NEWS
EU competition law daily briefing: statement of objections to Meta over WhatsApp AI assistant access ban; possible interim measures; updated reform timeline; merger clearances; State aid decisions; key upcoming dates

Antitrust Commission issues SO to Meta over WhatsApp AI access limits; flags possible interim measures The Commission has delivered a statement of objections to Meta, outlining its preliminary assessment that Meta blocked third-party artificial intelligence (AI) assistants from accessing and engaging with users on WhatsApp, infringing Article 102 TFEU (AT.41034). The Commission considers that Meta’s behaviour risks preventing competitors from entering or growing in the rapidly expanding market for general-purpose AI assistants and has therefore indicated its intention to impose interim measures (subject to Meta’s rights of defence) to avoid serious and irreparable harm to competition. Background On 15 October 2025, Meta announced changes to its WhatsApp Business Solution Terms, effectively prohibiting third-party general-purpose AI assistants from the platform. Consequently, from 15 January 2026, Meta’s own assistant, Meta AI, has been the only AI assistant available on WhatsApp. On 4 December 2025, the Commission opened formal proceedings to examine whether this policy shift amounts to an abuse of dominance. The investigation covers the EEA, excluding Italy, where...

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NEWS
EU competition law: AG opinions on Android Auto access, AGCM time limit, air cargo effects test; Commission enforcement evaluation; NCA interim measures; State aid judgments; mergers (5 September 2024)

Antitrust Advocate General suggests Google’s refusal to provide third party access to Android Auto platform may breach Article 102 TFEU Advocate General Laila Medina issued her opinion in Case C- 233/23 Alphabet and Others, a national reference from Italy that seeks guidance and clarification on whether Google’s stance of denying third-party access to Android Auto (a mobile app for Android devices) infringes Article 102 TFEU. For context, Google is the developer of Android OS, an open-source operating system for Android mobile devices. In 2015, Google rolled out Android Auto, an app for mobile devices with an Android operating system that allows motorists to use certain smartphone apps via a car’s integrated display. Independent developers are able to produce iterations of their own apps that work with Android Auto by applying templates supplied by Google. Enel X (part of the Enel Group) delivers electric car charging services. In May 2018, it introduced JuicePass, an app which provides a suite of features for charging electric vehicles. In September 2018, Enel X...

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NEWS
UK energy law weekly update: DESNZ and Ofgem consultations, CfD AR7 budgets, OFTO and network reforms, retail TPI regulation, non-domestic smart meters, ETS aviation, CMP444 rejection, key deadlines

In this issue: Electricity and gas market regulation and licensing Networks and grid connections Renewable energy Capacity Market, balancing services and system flexibility Air emissions, efficiency and climate change International energy Daily and weekly news alerts New and updated content Dates for your diary Trackers Energy resources on Lexis+® Electricity and gas market regulation and licensing DESNZ has opened a consultation to strengthen Energy Ombudsman (EO) powers. It will concentrate on complaints from domestic energy suppliers, small enterprise complaints against non-domestic suppliers, and heat network complaints. Electricity and gas networks and third-party intermediaries will instead be consulted on separately. The plans include shortening the escalation period for complaints from eight to four weeks, allowing automatic compensation where EO decisions are not put into effect promptly, and granting the EO a statutory designation. DESNZ has also stated that Ofgem will regulate third‑party intermediaries, including energy brokers and price comparison sites, which have previously operated...

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PRACTICE NOTES
Legal due diligence reporting in UK private equity buyouts: process, scope, executive summaries, third-party reliance and drafting (including exceptions-only reports and precedent)

This Practice Note forms part of the Lexis+® UK Corporate private equity buyout transaction toolkit. The reporting process Every adviser appointed to carry out due diligence ought to flag principal findings as they emerge, particularly any significant risks or concerns, and then prepare a due diligence report to highlight material issues arising from their review work and analysis. The advisers’ engagement letters must clearly define the agreed timetable, format and scope of the due diligence report. Draft or interim reports can be produced and shared at intervals during the process, enabling material issues to be promptly addressed as they arise. Frequently, by the point the final report goes to the private equity investor, they will be aware of all material matters that could affect the transaction in question. The aim of a legal due diligence report is to: provide the investor with adequate information about the target and to summarise that material in a succinct and comprehensive ...

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PRACTICE NOTES
UK FCA DTR 1–1C: application, post‑Brexit and 2024 listing reforms, MAR interplay, audit committees, misleading disclosures and related party rules

This Resource Note spotlights commentary, analysis and materials to aid interpretation and give practical guidance on applying Chapters 1, 1A, 1B and 1C of the Disclosure Guidance and Transparency Rules: DTR 1, DTR 1A, DTR 1B and DTR 1C respectively. Materials referenced here include, where pertinent: the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) Handbook FCA Knowledge Base guidance—Procedural notes and Technical notes (constituting formal guidance and binding on the FCA) FCA consultation papers, discussion papers, policy statements, feedback statements and warnings Primary Market Bulletins and other FCA publications former UKLA technical and procedural notes and the UKLA newsletter List!, where still relevant to interpreting or applying a provision assimilated EU legislation EU Directives and EU Regulations, where relevant to interpreting a provision Lexis+ UK analysis and resources Setting the scene What it covers: DTR 1 sets out the Disclosure guidance, explaining its scope and purpose; DTR 1A sets out the transparency rules with their scope and purpose;...

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PRACTICE NOTES
Contractual damages and remedies under English law: termination, causation, remoteness, mitigation, expectation/reliance/restitution, quantification (Ruxley), non-pecuniary loss, and liquidated damages versus penalties (Cavendish v Makdessi)

Overview This Practice Note forms part of our LLB Contract Law series for law students. It surveys the remedies for breach of contract, with damages at the heart of the common law response. Setting remedies within the framework of contract, it explains when a party may terminate—most notably for breach of conditions and of innominate (or ‘intermediate’) terms. It then sets out the expectation principle from Robinson v Harman (1848) 1 Exch 850, stressing that an award should put the claimant in the position they would have been in had performance occurred. The Note next traces the principal constraints on recovery—causation, remoteness, and the duty to mitigate—and discusses leading cases on mitigation to show how these limits operate even once breach is proved. It also considers alternative measures—expectation, reliance and, in rare cases, restitutionary recovery—before addressing quantification, including the contrast between ‘difference in value’ and ‘cost of cure’ illustrated by Ruxley Electronics v Forsyth [1996] AC 344. Finally, it deals with non-pecuniary loss and the contemporary approach to liquidated...

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View the related Precedents about Party

PRECEDENTS
SRA-compliant Fixed-Fee Price and Service Information Notice Template for Law Firms (England and Wales)

1 Legal costs 1.1 The legal costs of [ insert brief description of services, eg obtaining a grant of probate and distributing an estate ] consist of [ two OR three ] principal elements: our fees; outlays we pay on your behalf (often referred to as disbursements) [ ; OR . ] [ costs you may need to pay to another party. ] 1.2 Our charges We apply a fixed-fee structure [ of £[ insert price excluding VAT ] OR ranging between £[ insert price excluding VAT ] and £[ insert price excluding VAT ] depending on [ insert description of the factors that will dictate where in the fixed price range your fees will fall, eg the value and complexity of your matter ] ] . [ If a matter or transaction does not reach completion, we reserve the right to charge for the work undertaken, using our standard charging rate of £[ insert rate...

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PRECEDENTS
Balanced UK supply chain compliance schedule: anti-bribery, modern slavery, failure to prevent tax evasion and fraud; policies, training, records, audit and monitoring, flow-down, breach/termination, indemnity

The Schedule 1 Definitions 1.1 In this Schedule: Adequate Procedures – must be interpreted in line with BA 2010 and any guidance issued under it; Associated Person – means any or all of: (a) the officers, employees, agents, subcontractors, subsidiaries, and individuals Associated With a party (Associates); and (b) persons Associated With any of those Associates, in every instance engaged in carrying out services for, or on behalf of, that party, the Services, and/or this Agreement; and Associated With – where used: (a) in paragraph 2 and in relation to bribery, is to be construed in accordance with BA 2010 and guidance issued under it; (b) in paragraph 4 and regarding the facilitation of tax evasion, is to be construed in accordance with Part 3 of CFA 2017 and guidance issued under it; (c) in paragraph 5 and as regards fraud, is to be construed in accordance with Part 5 of ECCTA 2023 and guidance issued under it; BA 2010 – means the...

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PRECEDENTS
Settlement agreement precedent (Scotland) for civil court or arbitration disputes, including release, agreement not to sue, confidentiality and joint minute

This Agreement is dated [ date ] Parties [ insert name of the pursuer ], a company registered in Scotland (no [ insert company number ]), whose [ registered office OR principal place of business ] is at [ insert address ] (the Pursuer) [ and ] [ ; ] [ insert name of defender ], a company registered in Scotland (no [ insert company number ]), whose [ registered office OR principal place of business ] is at [ insert address ] (the Defender). Each being a Party and, together, the Parties. Whereas (A) [ Insert details of the background to the dispute eg ‘The Parties entered into a contract for the supply of certain goods etc ]. (B) A dispute has emerged between the Parties regarding [ insert details of the dispute ] (the Dispute). (C) [ Proceedings were raised by the Pursuer against the Defender on [ date ] by way of [ Summons OR...

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Q&As
LRA 2002 s.4 rentcharges: first registration and transfer validity

The general rule The general rule is that when a buyer of a freehold interest enters into covenants with the seller, although the burden of restrictive obligations will in many instances bind a successor in title, positive duties requiring the covenantor to act do not run when the freehold is conveyed. A rentcharge operates as a device by which a monetary duty can pass to the successor of the initial buyer. There is no issue, as a matter of contractual privity, in imposing on the purchaser a contractual obligation to pay the seller for the supply of services relating to the land; however, matters become more intricate once the seller transfers the freehold estate to a third party. The rentcharge nonetheless entitles its holder to demand regular periodic payments of money from the owner of the freehold estate. It is not a mortgage, because it does not function as security for a debt...

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Q&As
EL Multi-track: Adjourned Amend Defence/Part 18—Witness Evidence, Breach and Extension Refusal

At the heart of the query lies the status of a party who does not adhere to a court direction, yet has lodged an application to extend the time for compliance before the expiry of the deadline attached to that direction. On the scenario set out, the claimant will be in breach of the court order concerning the exchange of witness statements in two weeks’ time, because that order will not have been varied before the deadline for compliance under that order...

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Q&As
Can a litigant in person contact a represented opponent directly?

In numerous matters, one or both sides in a legal dispute appear without lawyers, representing themselves in the proceedings. This occurs for a range of reasons; frequently, the cause is an inability to obtain legal representation because of limited personal finances. Every section of the legal profession, under its respective code of conduct and in line with its duties to the court, is obliged to treat litigants in person with fairness and respect. In addition, the Judicial College Guidance offers further direction to the judiciary on the role of the judge when a case features a litigant in person within proceedings of this kind...

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