Jurisdiction(s):
United Kingdom

Related legal acts

Key definition

ACT definition

What does ACT mean? In corporate and banking practice, ACT usually refers to the Association of Corporate Treasurers, the UK-based professional body for corporate treasury professionals, rather than a statutory “Act”. It is not defined in legislation or case law; the acronym is market terminology used in transaction documents and governance materials. The Association of Corporate Treasurers promotes professional standards in liquidity management, funding, cash and risk management, foreign exchange and derivatives. It publishes guidance and a code of ethics and awards recognised qualifications (including AMCT and FCT). In legal contexts, references to “ACT-qualified” personnel or to ACT good practice may appear in treasury policies,...

Managing uncooperative, absent and non-English-speaking witnesses: witness summaries, depositions and remote evidence; payments to witnesses; restrictions on cross-examination by litigants in person (England and Wales)

Published by a LexisNexis Dispute Resolution expert

Practice notes

This Practice Note highlights challenges that can arise with certain witnesses, such as whether any payments may properly be made to them, and how to manage a witness who does not speak English. It also considers taking depositions for witnesses who are absent, and the use of witness summaries.

This Practice Note does not deal with vulnerable witnesses—for additional guidance, see Practice Note: Planning, interviewing and choosing witnesses—Vulnerable witnesses.

Nor does it cover the requirements for preparing trial witness statements in the Business and Property Courts, which are governed by cpr PD 57AD; see also Practice Note: Trial witness statements in the Business and Property Courts under CPR PD 57AC.

How do I handle an unco-operative witness?

You may encounter a potential witness who is reluctant to give evidence. There could be many reasons; it is often prudent to explore why and whether you can allay their concerns. Short of abandoning that witness or persuading them to assist, the choice is between a witness summons and a witness summary. For information on witness summonses, see Practice Note: Witness summons...

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Web page updated on 21/05/2026

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