Show Your Hand: Court of Appeal of England and Wales Determines that All Conspiracy Claims Must be Pleaded in Full

A recent judgment from the Court of Appeal in England and Wales, Elite Property Holdings Ltd v Barclays Bank Plc1 presents a useful reminder of the procedural aspects of the tort of conspiracy. The case involved an appeal of a decision from the High Court. The Court of Appeal held that all conspiracy claims must be properly pleaded, in other words all grounds must be set out in detail in the statement of claim.  The case makes it clear that claimants must show their hand at an early stage of proceedings.