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2025 reforms to the Arbitration Act 1996: default seat law, arbitrator disclosure, summary awards, emergency arbitrators, wider court powers, section 67 limits, and transitional provisions in England and Wales

Published on: 25 February 2025

Published by a LexisNexis Arbitration expert
Legal News
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Article summary

Background to the 2025 Act which amends the Arbitration Act 1996

The Arbitration Act 1996 (the AA 1996) has played a central role in the growth of arbitrations seated in London. More contracts now select London as the seat, bringing notable gains to bodies such as the London Court of International Arbitration (LCIA). By simplifying the resolution of commercial disputes, the AA 1996 has strengthened London’s international appeal.

In 2022, the Law Commission of England and Wales launched a review and consultation of the AA 1996 to modernise it and safeguard London’s standing as a leading global centre for commercial arbitration. Its Recommendations, published in September 2023, found that the AA 1996 remains effective, while justifying targeted refinements (Summary of Recommendations at 1.22) (Law Commission Documents Template). The Conservative government accepted those proposals and introduced a Bill to the House of Lords on 21 November 2023. A commitment by the Labour government in the King’s Speech on 17 July 2024 reintroduced the Bill into the Parliamentary Process...

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