Jurisdiction(s):
United Kingdom

Related legal acts

Key definition

Interim injunction definition

What does Interim injunction mean? An interim injunction is a temporary court order, made at an early stage of proceedings, requiring a party to do or refrain from doing something until trial or further order. It is a discretionary, equitable remedy used to preserve the status quo and prevent irreparable harm, commonly restraining breaches of contract or confidence, trespass, intellectual property infringement, asset dissipation (freezing injunctions), or publication of sensitive material. In England and Wales and Northern Ireland, the principles are derived from case law (not statute), notably American Cyanamid, and court rules. The court considers whether there is a serious question to be tried, whether...

Interim injunctions in England and Wales: the American Cyanamid test—core principles, variations, mandatory orders and section 25 CJJA support

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Practice notes

This Practice Note examines the American Cyanamid test used by the courts to determine whether to grant temporary injunctive relief. It sets out the sources of the court’s authority and the principles that inform a judge’s discretion when considering an interim injunction application under those guidelines. For wider guidance on injunctive relief, including the distinction between interim and final, and between prohibitory and mandatory orders, see Practice Note: injunctions—guiding principles.

For interim remedies focused on preserving assets and/or evidence, see:

Freezing injunctions—guiding principles
Proprietary freezing injunctions
Search and imaging orders—guiding principles
Interim delivery up orders and preservation of property

This content should also be read in conjunction with:

Interim injunctions—on notice applications
Interim injunctions—without notice applications
Interim injunctions—drafting the order

Guiding principles for interim injunctions

The jurisdiction to grant interim injunctions arises from section 37(1) of the Senior Courts Act 1981 and CPR 25.1(1)(a), as outlined in Practice Note: Injunctions—guiding principles—The court’s power to grant injunctions. In general terms, the courts retain a broad discretion to award interim injunctive relief...

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Web page updated on 21/05/2026

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