Arbitration Act 1996

The provisions of this Part apply where the seat of the arbitration is in England and Wales or Northern Ireland.

The following sections apply even if the seat of the arbitration is outside England and Wales or Northern Ireland or no seat has been designated or determined—

The powers conferred by the following sections apply even if the seat of the arbitration is outside England and Wales or Northern Ireland or no seat has been designated or determined— but the court may refuse to exercise any such power if, in the opinion of the court, the fact that the seat of the arbitration is outside England and Wales or Northern Ireland, or that when designated or determined the seat is likely to be outside England and Wales or Northern Ireland, makes it inappropriate to do so.

The court may exercise a power conferred by any provision of this Part not mentioned in subsection (2) or (3) for the purpose of supporting the arbitral process where—

Section 7 (separability of arbitration agreement) and section 8 (death of a party) apply where the law applicable to the arbitration agreement is the law of England and Wales or Northern Ireland even if the seat of the arbitration is outside England and Wales or Northern Ireland or has not been designated or determined.

The mandatory provisions of this Part are listed in Schedule 1 and have effect notwithstanding any agreement to the contrary.

The other provisions of this Part (the “non-mandatory provisions”) allow the parties to make their own arrangements by agreement but provide rules which apply in the absence of such agreement.

The parties may make such arrangements by agreeing to the application of institutional rules or providing any other means by which a matter may be decided.

It is immaterial whether or not the law applicable to the parties’ agreement is the law of England and Wales or, as the case may be, Northern Ireland.

The choice of a law other than the law of England and Wales or Northern Ireland as the applicable law in respect of a matter provided for by a non-mandatory provision of this Part is equivalent to an agreement making provision about that matter. For this purpose an applicable law determined in accordance with the parties’ agreement, or which is objectively determined in the absence of any express or implied choice, shall be treated as chosen by the parties.

The provisions of this Part apply only where the arbitration agreement is in writing, and any other agreement between the parties as to any matter is effective for the purposes of this Part only if in writing. The expressions “agreement”, “agree” and “agreed” shall be construed accordingly.

There is an agreement in writing—

Where parties agree otherwise than in writing by reference to terms which are in writing, they make an agreement in writing.

An agreement is evidenced in writing if an agreement made otherwise than in writing is recorded by one of the parties, or by a third party, with the authority of the parties to the agreement.

An exchange of written submissions in arbitral or legal proceedings in which the existence of an agreement otherwise than in writing is alleged by one party against another party and not denied by the other party in his response constitutes as between those parties an agreement in writing to the effect alleged.

References in this Part to anything being written or in writing include its being recorded by any means.

In this Part an “arbitration agreement” means an agreement to submit to arbitration present or future disputes (whether they are contractual or not).

The reference in an agreement to a written form of arbitration clause or to a document containing an arbitration clause constitutes an arbitration agreement if the reference is such as to make that clause part of the agreement.

The law applicable to an arbitration agreement is—

For the purposes of subsection (1), agreement between the parties that a particular law applies to an agreement of which the arbitration agreement forms a part does not constitute express agreement that that law also applies to the arbitration agreement.

Subsection (1) does not apply to an arbitration agreement derived from a standing offer to submit disputes to arbitration where the offer is contained in—

In this section—

Unless otherwise agreed by the parties, an arbitration agreement is not discharged by the death of a party and may be enforced by or against the personal representatives of that party.

Subsection (1) does not affect the operation of any enactment or rule of law by virtue of which a substantive right or obligation is extinguished by death.

A party to an arbitration agreement against whom legal proceedings are brought (whether by way of claim or counterclaim) in respect of a matter which under the agreement is to be referred to arbitration may (upon notice to the other parties to the proceedings) apply to the court in which the proceedings have been brought to stay the proceedings so far as they concern that matter.

An application may be made notwithstanding that the matter is to be referred to arbitration only after the exhaustion of other dispute resolution procedures.

An application may not be made by a person before taking the appropriate procedural step (if any) to acknowledge the legal proceedings against him or after he has taken any step in those proceedings to answer the substantive claim.

On an application under this section the court shall grant a stay unless satisfied that the arbitration agreement is null and void, inoperative, or incapable of being performed.

If the court refuses to stay the legal proceedings, any provision that an award is a condition precedent to the bringing of legal proceedings in respect of any matter is of no effect in relation to those proceedings.

Where in legal proceedings relief by way of interpleader is granted and any issue between the claimants is one in respect of which there is an arbitration agreement between them, the court granting the relief shall direct that the issue be determined in accordance with the agreement unless the circumstances are such that proceedings brought by a claimant in respect of the matter would not be stayed.

Where subsection (1) applies but the court does not direct that the issue be determined in accordance with the arbitration agreement, any provision that an award is a condition precedent to the bringing of legal proceedings in respect of any matter shall not affect the determination of that issue by the court.

Where Admiralty proceedings are stayed on the ground that the dispute in question should be submitted to arbitration, the court granting the stay may, if in those proceedings property has been arrested or bail or other security has been given to prevent or obtain release from arrest—

Subject to any provision made by rules of court and to any necessary modifications, the same law and practice shall apply in relation to property retained in pursuance of an order as would apply if it were held for the purposes of proceedings in the court making the order.

Where an arbitration agreement to refer future disputes to arbitration provides that a claim shall be barred, or the claimant’s right extinguished, unless the claimant takes within a time fixed by the agreement some step— the court may by order extend the time for taking that step.

Any party to the arbitration agreement may apply for such an order (upon notice to the other parties), but only after a claim has arisen and after exhausting any available arbitral process for obtaining an extension of time.

The court shall make an order only if satisfied—

The court may extend the time for such period and on such terms as it thinks fit, and may do so whether or not the time previously fixed (by agreement or by a previous order) has expired.

An order under this section does not affect the operation of the Limitation Acts (see section 13).

The leave of the court is required for any appeal from a decision of the court under this section.

The Limitation Acts apply to arbitral proceedings as they apply to legal proceedings.

The court may order that in computing the time prescribed by the Limitation Acts for the commencement of proceedings (including arbitral proceedings) in respect of a dispute which was the subject matter— the period between the commencement of the arbitration and the date of the order referred to in paragraph (a) or (b) shall be excluded.

In determining for the purposes of the Limitation Acts when a cause of action accrued, any provision that an award is a condition precedent to the bringing of legal proceedings in respect of a matter to which an arbitration agreement applies shall be disregarded.

In this Part “the Limitation Acts” means—

The parties are free to agree when arbitral proceedings are to be regarded as commenced for the purposes of this Part and for the purposes of the Limitation Acts.

If there is no such agreement the following provisions apply.

Where the arbitrator is named or designated in the arbitration agreement, arbitral proceedings are commenced in respect of a matter when one party serves on the other party or parties a notice in writing requiring him or them to submit that matter to the person so named or designated.

Where the arbitrator or arbitrators are to be appointed by the parties, arbitral proceedings are commenced in respect of a matter when one party serves on the other party or parties notice in writing requiring him or them to appoint an arbitrator or to agree to the appointment of an arbitrator in respect of that matter.

Where the arbitrator or arbitrators are to be appointed by a person other than a party to the proceedings, arbitral proceedings are commenced in respect of a matter when one party gives notice in writing to that person requesting him to make the appointment in respect of that matter.

The parties are free to agree on the number of arbitrators to form the tribunal and whether there is to be a chairman or umpire.

Unless otherwise agreed by the parties, an agreement that the number of arbitrators shall be two or any other even number shall be understood as requiring the appointment of an additional arbitrator as chairman of the tribunal.

If there is no agreement as to the number of arbitrators, the tribunal shall consist of a sole arbitrator.

The parties are free to agree on the procedure for appointing the arbitrator or arbitrators, including the procedure for appointing any chairman or umpire.

If or to the extent that there is no such agreement, the following provisions apply.

If the tribunal is to consist of a sole arbitrator, the parties shall jointly appoint the arbitrator not later than 28 days after service of a request in writing by either party to do so.

If the tribunal is to consist of two arbitrators, each party shall appoint one arbitrator not later than 14 days after service of a request in writing by either party to do so.

If the tribunal is to consist of three arbitrators—

If the tribunal is to consist of two arbitrators and an umpire—

In any other case (in particular, if there are more than two parties) section 18 applies as in the case of a failure of the agreed appointment procedure.

Unless the parties otherwise agree, where each of two parties to an arbitration agreement is to appoint an arbitrator and one party (“the party in default”) refuses to do so, or fails to do so within the time specified, the other party, having duly appointed his arbitrator, may give notice in writing to the party in default that he proposes to appoint his arbitrator to act as sole arbitrator.

If the party in default does not within 7 clear days of that notice being given— the other party may appoint his arbitrator as sole arbitrator whose award shall be binding on both parties as if he had been so appointed by agreement.

Where a sole arbitrator has been appointed under subsection (2), the party in default may (upon notice to the appointing party) apply to the court which may set aside the appointment.

The leave of the court is required for any appeal from a decision of the court under this section.

The parties are free to agree what is to happen in the event of a failure of the procedure for the appointment of the arbitral tribunal. There is no failure if an appointment is duly made under section 17 (power in case of default to appoint sole arbitrator), unless that appointment is set aside.

If or to the extent that there is no such agreement any party to the arbitration agreement may (upon notice to the other parties) apply to the court to exercise its powers under this section.

Those powers are—

An appointment made by the court under this section has effect as if made with the agreement of the parties.

The leave of the court is required for any appeal from a decision of the court under this section.

Where the parties have agreed that there is to be a chairman, they are free to agree what the functions of the chairman are to be in relation to the making of decisions, orders and awards.

If or to the extent that there is no such agreement, the following provisions apply.

Decisions, orders and awards shall be made by all or a majority of the arbitrators (including the chairman).

The view of the chairman shall prevail in relation to a decision, order or award in respect of which there is neither unanimity nor a majority under subsection (3).

Where the parties have agreed that there is to be an umpire, they are free to agree what the functions of the umpire are to be, and in particular—

If or to the extent that there is no such agreement, the following provisions apply.

The umpire shall attend the proceedings and be supplied with the same documents and other materials as are supplied to the other arbitrators.

Decisions, orders and awards shall be made by the other arbitrators unless and until they cannot agree on a matter relating to the arbitration. In that event they shall forthwith give notice in writing to the parties and the umpire, whereupon the umpire shall replace them as the tribunal with power to make decisions, orders and awards as if he were sole arbitrator.

If the arbitrators cannot agree but fail to give notice of that fact, or if any of them fails to join in the giving of notice, any party to the arbitral proceedings may (upon notice to the other parties and to the tribunal) apply to the court which may order that the umpire shall replace the other arbitrators as the tribunal with power to make decisions, orders and awards as if he were sole arbitrator.

The leave of the court is required for any appeal from a decision of the court under this section.

Where the parties agree that there shall be two or more arbitrators with no chairman or umpire, the parties are free to agree how the tribunal is to make decisions, orders and awards.

If there is no such agreement, decisions, orders and awards shall be made by all or a majority of the arbitrators.

The parties are free to agree in what circumstances the authority of an arbitrator may be revoked.

If or to the extent that there is no such agreement the following provisions apply.

The authority of an arbitrator may not be revoked except—

Revocation of the authority of an arbitrator by the parties acting jointly must be agreed in writing unless the parties also agree (whether or not in writing) to terminate the arbitration agreement.

Nothing in this section affects the power of the court—

A party to arbitral proceedings may (upon notice to the other parties, to the arbitrator concerned and to any other arbitrator) apply to the court to remove an arbitrator on any of the following grounds—

If there is an arbitral or other institution or person vested by the parties with power to remove an arbitrator, the court shall not exercise its power of removal unless satisfied that the applicant has first exhausted any available recourse to that institution or person.

The arbitral tribunal may continue the arbitral proceedings and make an award while an application to the court under this section is pending.

Where the court removes an arbitrator, it may make such order as it thinks fit with respect to his entitlement (if any) to fees or expenses, or the repayment of any fees or expenses already paid.

The arbitrator concerned is entitled to appear and be heard by the court before it makes any order under this section.

The leave of the court is required for any appeal from a decision of the court under this section.

The court may not order the arbitrator to pay costs in proceedings under this section unless any act or omission of the arbitrator in connection with the proceedings is shown to have been in bad faith.

An individual who has been approached by a person in connection with the individual’s possible appointment as an arbitrator must, as soon as reasonably practical, disclose to the person any relevant circumstances of which the individual is, or becomes, aware.

An arbitrator must, as soon as reasonably practical, disclose to the parties to the arbitral proceedings any relevant circumstances of which the arbitrator is, or becomes, aware.

For the purposes of this section—

The parties are free to agree with an arbitrator as to the consequences of his resignation as regards—

If or to the extent that there is no such agreement the following provisions apply.

Where an arbitrator resigns, a relevant person may (upon notice to the other relevant persons) apply to the court to make such order as it thinks fit with respect to the arbitrator’s entitlement (if any) to fees or expenses or the repayment of any fees or expenses already paid.

For the purposes of subsection (3), each of the parties and the arbitrator is a “relevant person”.

The leave of the court is required for any appeal from a decision of the court under this section.

The authority of an arbitrator is personal and ceases on his death.

Unless otherwise agreed by the parties, the death of the person by whom an arbitrator was appointed does not revoke the arbitrator’s authority.

Where an arbitrator ceases to hold office, the parties are free to agree—

If or to the extent that there is no such agreement, the following provisions apply.

The provisions of sections 16 (procedure for appointment of arbitrators) and 18 (failure of appointment procedure) apply in relation to the filling of the vacancy as in relation to an original appointment.

The tribunal (when reconstituted) shall determine whether and if so to what extent the previous proceedings should stand. This does not affect any right of a party to challenge those proceedings on any ground which had arisen before the arbitrator ceased to hold office.

His ceasing to hold office does not affect any appointment by him (alone or jointly) of another arbitrator, in particular any appointment of a chairman or umpire.

The parties are jointly and severally liable to pay to the arbitrators such reasonable fees and expenses (if any) as are appropriate in the circumstances.

Any party may apply to the court (upon notice to the other parties and to the arbitrators) which may order that the amount of the arbitrators’ fees and expenses shall be considered and adjusted by such means and upon such terms as it may direct.

If the application is made after any amount has been paid to the arbitrators by way of fees or expenses, the court may order the repayment of such amount (if any) as is shown to be excessive, but shall not do so unless it is shown that it is reasonable in the circumstances to order repayment.

The above provisions have effect subject to any order of the court under section 24(4) or 25(3) (order as to entitlement to fees or expenses in case of removal or resignation of arbitrator).

Nothing in this section affects any liability of a party to any other party to pay all or any of the costs of the arbitration (see sections 59 to 65) or any contractual right of an arbitrator to payment of his fees and expenses.

In this section references to arbitrators include an arbitrator who has ceased to act and an umpire who has not replaced the other arbitrators.

An arbitrator is not liable for anything done or omitted in the discharge or purported discharge of his functions as arbitrator unless the act or omission is shown to have been in bad faith (and see section 24(5A) (immunity in respect of costs of proceedings for removal)).

Subsection (1) applies to an employee or agent of an arbitrator as it applies to the arbitrator himself.

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An arbitrator’s resignation does not give rise to any liability for the arbitrator unless it is shown that the resignation was, in all the circumstances, unreasonable.

But subsection (4) is subject to—

Unless otherwise agreed by the parties, the arbitral tribunal may rule on its own substantive jurisdiction, that is, as to—

Any such ruling may be challenged by any available arbitral process of appeal or review or in accordance with the provisions of this Part.

An objection that the arbitral tribunal lacks substantive jurisdiction at the outset of the proceedings must be raised by a party not later than the time he takes the first step in the proceedings to contest the merits of any matter in relation to which he challenges the tribunal’s jurisdiction. A party is not precluded from raising such an objection by the fact that he has appointed or participated in the appointment of an arbitrator.

Any objection during the course of the arbitral proceedings that the arbitral tribunal is exceeding its substantive jurisdiction must be made as soon as possible after the matter alleged to be beyond its jurisdiction is raised.

The arbitral tribunal may admit an objection later than the time specified in subsection (1) or (2) if it considers the delay justified.

Where an objection is duly taken to the tribunal’s substantive jurisdiction and the tribunal has power to rule on its own jurisdiction, it may— If the parties agree which of these courses the tribunal should take, the tribunal shall proceed accordingly.

The tribunal may in any case, and shall if the parties so agree, stay proceedings whilst an application is made to the court under section 32 (determination of preliminary point of jurisdiction).

The court may, on the application of a party to arbitral proceedings (upon notice to the other parties), determine any question as to the substantive jurisdiction of the tribunal. A party may lose the right to object (see section 73).

An application under this section shall not be considered unless—

An application under this section must not be considered to the extent that it is in respect of a question on which the tribunal has already ruled.

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Unless otherwise agreed by the parties, the arbitral tribunal may continue the arbitral proceedings and make an award while an application to the court under this section is pending.

Unless the court gives leave, no appeal lies from a decision of the court whether either condition specified in subsection (2) is met.

The decision of the court on the question of jurisdiction shall be treated as a judgment of the court for the purposes of an appeal. But no appeal lies without the leave of the court which shall not be given unless the court considers that the question involves a point of law which is one of general importance or is one which for some other special reason should be considered by the Court of Appeal.

The tribunal shall—

The tribunal shall comply with that general duty in conducting the arbitral proceedings, in its decisions on matters of procedure and evidence and in the exercise of all other powers conferred on it.

It shall be for the tribunal to decide all procedural and evidential matters, subject to the right of the parties to agree any matter.

Procedural and evidential matters include—

The tribunal may fix the time within which any directions given by it are to be complied with, and may if it thinks fit extend the time so fixed (whether or not it has expired).

The parties are free to agree— on such terms as may be agreed.

Unless the parties agree to confer such power on the tribunal, the tribunal has no power to order consolidation of proceedings or concurrent hearings.

Unless otherwise agreed by the parties—

The fees and expenses of an expert, legal adviser or assessor appointed by the tribunal for which the arbitrators are liable are expenses of the arbitrators for the purposes of this Part.

The parties are free to agree on the powers exercisable by the arbitral tribunal for the purposes of and in relation to the proceedings.

Unless otherwise agreed by the parties the tribunal has the following powers.

The tribunal may order a claimant to provide security for the costs of the arbitration. This power shall not be exercised on the ground that the claimant is—

The tribunal may give directions in relation to any property which is the subject of the proceedings or as to which any question arises in the proceedings, and which is owned by or is in the possession of a party to the proceedings—

The tribunal may direct that a party or witness shall be examined on oath or affirmation, and may for that purpose administer any necessary oath or take any necessary affirmation.

The tribunal may give directions to a party for the preservation for the purposes of the proceedings of any evidence in his custody or control.

The parties are free to agree that the tribunal shall have power to order on a provisional basis any relief which it would have power to grant in a final award.

This includes, for instance, making—

Any such order shall be subject to the tribunal’s final adjudication; and the tribunal’s final award, on the merits or as to costs, shall take account of any such order.

Unless the parties agree to confer such power on the tribunal, the tribunal has no such power. This does not affect its powers under section 47 (awards on different issues, &c.).

The parties shall do all things necessary for the proper and expeditious conduct of the arbitral proceedings.

This includes—

Unless the parties otherwise agree, the arbitral tribunal may, on an application made by a party to the proceedings (upon notice to the other parties), make an award on a summary basis in relation to a claim, or a particular issue arising in a claim, if the tribunal considers that—

For the purposes of subsection (1), an arbitral tribunal makes an award “on a summary basis” in relation to a claim or issue if the tribunal has exercised its power under section 34(1) (to decide all procedural and evidential matters) with a view to expediting the proceedings on the claim or issue.

Before exercising its power under section 34(1) as mentioned in subsection (2), an arbitral tribunal must afford the parties a reasonable opportunity to make representations to the tribunal.

The parties are free to agree on the powers of the tribunal in case of a party’s failure to do something necessary for the proper and expeditious conduct of the arbitration.

Unless otherwise agreed by the parties, the following provisions apply.

If the tribunal is satisfied that there has been inordinate and inexcusable delay on the part of the claimant in pursuing his claim and that the delay— the tribunal may make an award dismissing the claim.

If without showing sufficient cause a party— the tribunal may continue the proceedings in the absence of that party or, as the case may be, without any written evidence or submissions on his behalf, and may make an award on the basis of the evidence before it.

If without showing sufficient cause a party fails to comply with any order or directions of the tribunal, the tribunal may make a peremptory order to the same effect, prescribing such time for compliance with it as the tribunal considers appropriate.

If a claimant fails to comply with a peremptory order of the tribunal to provide security for costs, the tribunal may make an award dismissing his claim.

If a party fails to comply with any other kind of peremptory order of the tribunal, then, without prejudice to section 42 (enforcement by court of ... peremptory orders), the tribunal may do any of the following—

This section applies where—

Unless otherwise agreed by the parties, if without showing sufficient cause a party fails to comply with any order or directions of the emergency arbitrator, the emergency arbitrator may make a peremptory order to the same effect, prescribing such time for compliance with it as the emergency arbitrator considers appropriate.

Unless otherwise agreed by the parties, the court may make an order requiring a party to comply with a peremptory order made by the tribunal or (as the case may be) the emergency arbitrator.

An application for an order under this section may be made—

The court shall not act unless it is satisfied that the applicant has exhausted any available arbitral process in respect of failure to comply with the peremptory order.

No order shall be made under this section unless the court is satisfied that the person to whom the peremptory order was directed has failed to comply with it within the time prescribed in the order or, if no time was prescribed, within a reasonable time.

The leave of the court is required for any appeal from a decision of the court under this section.

A party to arbitral proceedings may use the same court procedures as are available in relation to legal proceedings to secure the attendance before the tribunal of a witness in order to give oral testimony or to produce documents or other material evidence.

This may only be done with the permission of the tribunal or the agreement of the other parties.

The court procedures may only be used if—

A person shall not be compelled by virtue of this section to produce any document or other material evidence which he could not be compelled to produce in legal proceedings.

Unless otherwise agreed by the parties, the court has for the purposes of and in relation to arbitral proceedings the same power of making orders (whether in relation to a party or any other person) about the matters listed below as it has for the purposes of and in relation to legal proceedings.

Those matters are—

If the case is one of urgency, the court may, on the application of a party or proposed party to the arbitral proceedings, make such orders as it thinks necessary for the purpose of preserving evidence or assets.

If the case is not one of urgency, the court may act only on the application of a party to the arbitral proceedings made with—

In any case the court shall act only if or to the extent that the arbitral tribunal or the emergency arbitrator, and any arbitral or other institution or person vested by the parties with power in that regard, has no power or is unable for the time being to act effectively.

An application under subsection (4) may be made only upon notice to the other parties and to the tribunal or the emergency arbitrator.

If the court so orders, an order made by it under this section shall cease to have effect in whole or in part on the order of the tribunal , the emergency arbitrator or of any such arbitral or other institution or person having power to act in relation to the subject-matter of the order.

Subject to subsection (7), an appeal lies from a decision of the court under this section.

The leave of the court is required for any such appeal by a party or proposed party to the arbitral proceedings.

Unless otherwise agreed by the parties, the court may on the application of a party to arbitral proceedings (upon notice to the other parties) determine any question of law arising in the course of the proceedings which the court is satisfied substantially affects the rights of one or more of the parties. An agreement to dispense with reasons for the tribunal’s award shall be considered an agreement to exclude the court’s jurisdiction under this section.

An application under this section shall not be considered unless—

The application shall identify the question of law to be determined ....

Unless otherwise agreed by the parties, the arbitral tribunal may continue the arbitral proceedings and make an award while an application to the court under this section is pending.

Unless the court gives leave, no appeal lies from a decision of the court whether either condition specified in subsection (2) is met.

The decision of the court on the question of law shall be treated as a judgment of the court for the purposes of an appeal. But no appeal lies without the leave of the court which shall not be given unless the court considers that the question is one of general importance, or is one which for some other special reason should be considered by the Court of Appeal.

The arbitral tribunal shall decide the dispute—

For this purpose the choice of the laws of a country shall be understood to refer to the substantive laws of that country and not its conflict of laws rules.

If or to the extent that there is no such choice or agreement, the tribunal shall apply the law determined by the conflict of laws rules which it considers applicable.

Unless otherwise agreed by the parties, the tribunal may make more than one award at different times on different aspects of the matters to be determined.

The tribunal may, in particular, make an award relating—

If the tribunal does so, it shall specify in its award the issue, or the claim or part of a claim, which is the subject matter of the award.

The parties are free to agree on the powers exercisable by the arbitral tribunal as regards remedies.

Unless otherwise agreed by the parties, the tribunal has the following powers.

The tribunal may make a declaration as to any matter to be determined in the proceedings.

The tribunal may order the payment of a sum of money, in any currency.

The tribunal has the same powers as the court—

The parties are free to agree on the powers of the tribunal as regards the award of interest.

Unless otherwise agreed by the parties the following provisions apply.

The tribunal may award simple or compound interest from such dates, at such rates and with such rests as it considers meets the justice of the case—

The tribunal may award simple or compound interest from the date of the award (or any later date) until payment, at such rates and with such rests as it considers meets the justice of the case, on the outstanding amount of any award (including any award of interest under subsection (3) and any award as to costs).

References in this section to an amount awarded by the tribunal include an amount payable in consequence of a declaratory award by the tribunal.

The above provisions do not affect any other power of the tribunal to award interest.

Where the time for making an award is limited by or in pursuance of the arbitration agreement, then, unless otherwise agreed by the parties, the court may in accordance with the following provisions by order extend that time.

An application for an order under this section may be made— but only after exhausting any available arbitral process for obtaining an extension of time.

The court shall only make an order if satisfied that a substantial injustice would otherwise be done.

The court may extend the time for such period and on such terms as it thinks fit, and may do so whether or not the time previously fixed (by or under the agreement or by a previous order) has expired.

The leave of the court is required for any appeal from a decision of the court under this section.

If during arbitral proceedings the parties settle the dispute, the following provisions apply unless otherwise agreed by the parties.

The tribunal shall terminate the substantive proceedings and, if so requested by the parties and not objected to by the tribunal, shall record the settlement in the form of an agreed award.

An agreed award shall state that it is an award of the tribunal and shall have the same status and effect as any other award on the merits of the case.

The following provisions of this Part relating to awards (sections 52 to 58) apply to an agreed award.

Unless the parties have also settled the matter of the payment of the costs of the arbitration, the provisions of this Part relating to costs (sections 59 to 65) continue to apply.

The parties are free to agree on the form of an award.

If or to the extent that there is no such agreement, the following provisions apply.

The award shall be in writing signed by all the arbitrators or all those assenting to the award.

The award shall contain the reasons for the award unless it is an agreed award or the parties have agreed to dispense with reasons.

The award shall state the seat of the arbitration and the date when the award is made.

Unless otherwise agreed by the parties, the tribunal may decide what is to be taken to be the date on which the award was made.

In the absence of any such decision, the date of the award shall be taken to be the date on which it is signed by the arbitrator or, where more than one arbitrator signs the award, by the last of them.

The parties are free to agree on the requirements as to notification of the award to the parties.

If there is no such agreement, the award shall be notified to the parties by service on them of copies of the award, which shall be done without delay after the award is made.

Nothing in this section affects section 56 (power to withhold award in case of non-payment).

The tribunal may refuse to deliver an award to the parties except upon full payment of the fees and expenses of the arbitrators.

If the tribunal refuses on that ground to deliver an award, a party to the arbitral proceedings may (upon notice to the other parties and the tribunal) apply to the court, which may order that—

For this purpose the amount of fees and expenses properly payable is the amount the applicant is liable to pay under section 28 or any agreement relating to the payment of the arbitrators.

No application to the court may be made where there is any available arbitral process for appeal or review of the amount of the fees or expenses demanded.

References in this section to arbitrators include an arbitrator who has ceased to act and an umpire who has not replaced the other arbitrators.

The above provisions of this section also apply in relation to any arbitral or other institution or person vested by the parties with powers in relation to the delivery of the tribunal’s award. As they so apply, the references to the fees and expenses of the arbitrators shall be construed as including the fees and expenses of that institution or person.

The leave of the court is required for any appeal from a decision of the court under this section.

Nothing in this section shall be construed as excluding an application under section 28 where payment has been made to the arbitrators in order to obtain the award.

The parties are free to agree on the powers of the tribunal to correct an award or make an additional award.

If or to the extent there is no such agreement, the following provisions apply.

The tribunal may on its own initiative or on the application of a party— These powers shall not be exercised without first affording the other parties a reasonable opportunity to make representations to the tribunal.

Any application for the exercise of those powers must be made within 28 days of the date of the award or such longer period as the parties may agree.

Any correction of an award shall be made within 28 days of the date the application was received by the tribunal or, where the correction is made by the tribunal on its own initiative, within 28 days of the date of the award or, in either case, such longer period as the parties may agree.

Any additional award shall be made within 56 days of the date of the original award or such longer period as the parties may agree.

Any correction of an award shall form part of the award.

Unless otherwise agreed by the parties, an award made by the tribunal pursuant to an arbitration agreement is final and binding both on the parties and on any persons claiming through or under them.

This does not affect the right of a person to challenge the award by any available arbitral process of appeal or review or in accordance with the provisions of this Part.

References in this Part to the costs of the arbitration are to—

Any such reference includes the costs of or incidental to any proceedings to determine the amount of the recoverable costs of the arbitration (see section 63).

The tribunal may make an award allocating the costs of the arbitration as between the parties ....

... The tribunal shall award costs on the general principle that costs should follow the event except where it appears to the tribunal that in the circumstances this is not appropriate in relation to the whole or part of the costs.

It is irrelevant for the purposes of subsection (1) whether the tribunal has ruled, or a court has held, that the tribunal has no substantive jurisdiction or has exceeded its substantive jurisdiction.

Subsections (1), (1A) and (2) are subject to any agreement of the parties.

The parties are free to agree what costs of the arbitration are recoverable.

If or to the extent there is no such agreement, the following provisions apply.

The tribunal may determine by award the recoverable costs of the arbitration on such basis as it thinks fit. If it does so, it shall specify—

If the tribunal does not determine the recoverable costs of the arbitration, any party to the arbitral proceedings may apply to the court (upon notice to the other parties) which may—

Unless the tribunal or the court determines otherwise—

The above provisions have effect subject to section 64 (recoverable fees and expenses of arbitrators).

Nothing in this section affects any right of the arbitrators, any expert, legal adviser or assessor appointed by the tribunal, or any arbitral institution, to payment of their fees and expenses.

Unless otherwise agreed by the parties, the recoverable costs of the arbitration shall include in respect of the fees and expenses of the arbitrators only such reasonable fees and expenses as are appropriate in the circumstances.

If there is any question as to what reasonable fees and expenses are appropriate in the circumstances, and the matter is not already before the court on an application under section 63(4), the court may on the application of any party (upon notice to the other parties)—

Subsection (1) has effect subject to any order of the court under section 24(4) or 25(3) (order as to entitlement to fees or expenses in case of removal or resignation of arbitrator).

Nothing in this section affects any right of the arbitrator to payment of his fees and expenses.

Unless otherwise agreed by the parties, the tribunal may direct that the recoverable costs of the arbitration, or of any part of the arbitral proceedings, shall be limited to a specified amount.

Any direction may be made or varied at any stage, but this must be done sufficiently in advance of the incurring of costs to which it relates, or the taking of any steps in the proceedings which may be affected by it, for the limit to be taken into account.

An award made by the tribunal pursuant to an arbitration agreement may, by leave of the court, be enforced in the same manner as a judgment or order of the court to the same effect.

Where leave is so given, judgment may be entered in terms of the award.

Leave to enforce an award shall not be given where, or to the extent that, the person against whom it is sought to be enforced shows that the tribunal lacked substantive jurisdiction to make the award. The right to raise such an objection may have been lost (see section 73).

Nothing in this section affects the recognition or enforcement of an award under any other enactment or rule of law, in particular under Part II of the Arbitration Act 1950 (enforcement of awards under Geneva Convention) or the provisions of Part III of this Act relating to the recognition and enforcement of awards under the New York Convention or by an action on the award.

A party to arbitral proceedings may (upon notice to the other parties and to the tribunal) apply to the court— A party may lose the right to object (see section 73) and the right to apply is subject to the restrictions in section 70(2) and (3).

The arbitral tribunal may continue the arbitral proceedings and make a further award while an application to the court under this section is pending in relation to an award as to jurisdiction.

On an application under this section, the court may by order—

The leave of the court is required for any appeal from a decision of the court under this section.

The court must not exercise its power to set aside or to declare an award to be of no effect, in whole or in part, unless it is satisfied that it would be inappropriate to remit the matters in question to the tribunal for reconsideration.

Rules of court about the procedure to be followed on an application under this section may, in particular, include provision within subsection (3C) in relation to a case where the application—

Provision is within this subsection if it provides that subject to the court ruling otherwise in the interests of justice—

Subsection (3B) does not limit the generality of the power to make rules of court.

A party to arbitral proceedings may (upon notice to the other parties and to the tribunal) apply to the court challenging an award in the proceedings on the ground of serious irregularity affecting the tribunal, the proceedings or the award. A party may lose the right to object (see section 73) and the right to apply is subject to the restrictions in section 70(2) and (3).

Serious irregularity means an irregularity of one or more of the following kinds which the court considers has caused or will cause substantial injustice to the applicant—

If there is shown to be serious irregularity affecting the tribunal, the proceedings or the award, the court may— The court shall not exercise its power to set aside or to declare an award to be of no effect, in whole or in part, unless it is satisfied that it would be inappropriate to remit the matters in question to the tribunal for reconsideration.

The leave of the court is required for any appeal from a decision of the court under this section.

Unless otherwise agreed by the parties, a party to arbitral proceedings may (upon notice to the other parties and to the tribunal) appeal to the court on a question of law arising out of an award made in the proceedings. An agreement to dispense with reasons for the tribunal’s award shall be considered an agreement to exclude the court’s jurisdiction under this section.

An appeal shall not be brought under this section except— The right to appeal is also subject to the restrictions in section 70(2) and (3).

Leave to appeal shall be given only if the court is satisfied—

An application for leave to appeal under this section shall identify the question of law to be determined and state the grounds on which it is alleged that leave to appeal should be granted.

The court shall determine an application for leave to appeal under this section without a hearing unless it appears to the court that a hearing is required.

The leave of the court is required for any appeal from a decision of the court under this section to grant or refuse leave to appeal.

On an appeal under this section the court may by order— The court shall not exercise its power to set aside an award, in whole or in part, unless it is satisfied that it would be inappropriate to remit the matters in question to the tribunal for reconsideration.

The decision of the court on an appeal under this section shall be treated as a judgment of the court for the purposes of a further appeal. But no such appeal lies without the leave of the court which shall not be given unless the court considers that the question is one of general importance or is one which for some other special reason should be considered by the Court of Appeal.

The following provisions apply to an application or appeal under section 67, 68 or 69.

An application or appeal may not be brought if the applicant or appellant has not first exhausted—

Any application or appeal must be brought within 28 days of the applicable date.

If on an application or appeal it appears to the court that the award— the court may order the tribunal to state the reasons for its award in sufficient detail for that purpose.

In subsection (3), “the applicable date” means—

Where the court makes an order under subsection (4), it may make such further order as it thinks fit with respect to any additional costs of the arbitration resulting from its order.

For the purposes of subsection (3A)— is “material” if any matter to which it relates is material to the application or appeal under section 67, 68 or 69.

The court may order the applicant or appellant to provide security for the costs of the application or appeal, and may direct that the application or appeal be dismissed if the order is not complied with. The power to order security for costs shall not be exercised on the ground that the applicant or appellant is—

The court may order that any money payable under the award shall be brought into court or otherwise secured pending the determination of the application or appeal, and may direct that the application or appeal be dismissed if the order is not complied with.

The court may grant leave to appeal subject to conditions to the same or similar effect as an order under subsection (6) or (7). This does not affect the general discretion of the court to grant leave subject to conditions.

In this section, a reference to available recourse, or to anything done, under section 57 includes a reference to available recourse, or to anything equivalent done, pursuant to agreement reached between the parties as mentioned in section 57(1).

The following provisions have effect where the court makes an order under section 67, 68 or 69 with respect to an award.

Where the award is varied, the variation has effect as part of the tribunal’s award.

Where the award is remitted to the tribunal, in whole or in part, for reconsideration, the tribunal shall make a fresh award in respect of the matters remitted within three months of the date of the order for remission or such longer or shorter period as the court may direct.

Where the award is set aside or declared to be of no effect, in whole or in part, the court may also order that any provision that an award is a condition precedent to the bringing of legal proceedings in respect of a matter to which the arbitration agreement applies, is of no effect as regards the subject matter of the award or, as the case may be, the relevant part of the award.

A person alleged to be a party to arbitral proceedings but who takes no part in the proceedings may question— by proceedings in the court for a declaration or injunction or other appropriate relief.

He also has the same right as a party to the arbitral proceedings to challenge an award— and section 70(2) (duty to exhaust arbitral procedures) does not apply in his case.

If a party to arbitral proceedings takes part, or continues to take part, in the proceedings without making, either forthwith or within such time as is allowed by the arbitration agreement or the tribunal or by any provision of this Part, any objection— he may not raise that objection later, before the tribunal or the court, unless he shows that, at the time he took part or continued to take part in the proceedings, he did not know and could not with reasonable diligence have discovered the grounds for the objection.

Where the arbitral tribunal rules that it has substantive jurisdiction and a party to arbitral proceedings who could have questioned that ruling— does not do so, or does not do so within the time allowed by the arbitration agreement or any provision of this Part, he may not object later to the tribunal’s substantive jurisdiction on any ground which was the subject of that ruling.

An arbitral or other institution or person designated or requested by the parties to appoint or nominate an arbitrator is not liable for anything done or omitted in the discharge or purported discharge of that function unless the act or omission is shown to have been in bad faith.

An arbitral or other institution or person by whom an arbitrator is appointed or nominated is not liable, by reason of having appointed or nominated him, for anything done or omitted by the arbitrator (or his employees or agents) in the discharge or purported discharge of his functions as arbitrator.

The above provisions apply to an employee or agent of an arbitral or other institution or person as they apply to the institution or person himself.

The parties are free to agree on the manner of service of any notice or other document required or authorised to be given or served in pursuance of the arbitration agreement or for the purposes of the arbitral proceedings.

If or to the extent that there is no such agreement the following provisions apply.

A notice or other document may be served on a person by any effective means.

If a notice or other document is addressed, pre-paid and delivered by post— it shall be treated as effectively served.

This section does not apply to the service of documents for the purposes of legal proceedings, for which provision is made by rules of court.

References in this Part to a notice or other document include any form of communication in writing and references to giving or serving a notice or other document shall be construed accordingly.

This section applies where service of a document on a person in the manner agreed by the parties, or in accordance with provisions of section 76 having effect in default of agreement, is not reasonably practicable.

Unless otherwise agreed by the parties, the court may make such order as it thinks fit—

Any party to the arbitration agreement may apply for an order, but only after exhausting any available arbitral process for resolving the matter.

The leave of the court is required for any appeal from a decision of the court under this section.

The parties are free to agree on the method of reckoning periods of time for the purposes of any provision agreed by them or any provision of this Part having effect in default of such agreement.

If or to the extent there is no such agreement, periods of time shall be reckoned in accordance with the following provisions.

Where the act is required to be done within a specified period after or from a specified date, the period begins immediately after that date.

Where the act is required to be done a specified number of clear days after a specified date, at least that number of days must intervene between the day on which the act is done and that date.

Where the period is a period of seven days or less which would include a Saturday, Sunday or a public holiday in the place where anything which has to be done within the period falls to be done, that day shall be excluded. In relation to England and Wales or Northern Ireland, a “public holiday” means Christmas Day, Good Friday or a day which under the Banking and Financial Dealings Act 1971 is a bank holiday.

Unless the parties otherwise agree, the court may by order extend any time limit agreed by them in relation to any matter relating to the arbitral proceedings or specified in any provision of this Part having effect in default of such agreement. This section does not apply to a time limit to which section 12 applies (power of court to extend time for beginning arbitral proceedings, &c.).

An application for an order may be made—

The court shall not exercise its power to extend a time limit unless it is satisfied—

The court’s power under this section may be exercised whether or not the time has already expired.

An order under this section may be made on such terms as the court thinks fit.

The leave of the court is required for any appeal from a decision of the court under this section.

References in this Part to an application, appeal or other step in relation to legal proceedings being taken “upon notice” to the other parties to the arbitral proceedings, or to the tribunal, are to such notice of the originating process as is required by rules of court and do not impose any separate requirement.

Rules of court shall be made—

Subject to any provision made by rules of court, a requirement to give notice to the tribunal of legal proceedings shall be construed—

References in this Part to making an application or appeal to the court within a specified period are to the issue within that period of the appropriate originating process in accordance with rules of court.

Where any provision of this Part requires an application or appeal to be made to the court within a specified time, the rules of court relating to the reckoning of periods, the extending or abridging of periods, and the consequences of not taking a step within the period prescribed by the rules, apply in relation to that requirement.

Provision may be made by rules of court amending the provisions of this Part—

Nothing in this section affects the generality of the power to make rules of court.

Nothing in this Part shall be construed as excluding the operation of any rule of law consistent with the provisions of this Part, in particular, any rule of law as to—

Nothing in this Act shall be construed as reviving any jurisdiction of the court to set aside or remit an award on the ground of errors of fact or law on the face of the award.

In this Part—

References in this Part to a party to an arbitration agreement include any person claiming under or through a party to the agreement.

The provisions of this Part do not apply to arbitral proceedings commenced before the date on which this Part comes into force.

They apply to arbitral proceedings commenced on or after that date under an arbitration agreement whenever made.

The above provisions have effect subject to any transitional provision made by an order under section 109(2) (power to include transitional provisions in commencement order).

In the case of a domestic arbitration agreement the provisions of Part I are modified in accordance with the following sections.

For this purpose a “domestic arbitration agreement” means an arbitration agreement to which none of the parties is— and under which the seat of the arbitration (if the seat has been designated or determined) is in the United Kingdom.

In subsection (2) “arbitration agreement” and “seat of the arbitration” have the same meaning as in Part I (see sections 3, 5(1) and 6).

In section 9 (stay of legal proceedings), subsection (4) (stay unless the arbitration agreement is null and void, inoperative, or incapable of being performed) does not apply to a domestic arbitration agreement.

On an application under that section in relation to a domestic arbitration agreement the court shall grant a stay unless satisfied—

The court may treat as a sufficient ground under subsection (2)(b) the fact that the applicant is or was at any material time not ready and willing to do all things necessary for the proper conduct of the arbitration or of any other dispute resolution procedures required to be exhausted before resorting to arbitration.

For the purposes of this section the question whether an arbitration agreement is a domestic arbitration agreement shall be determined by reference to the facts at the time the legal proceedings are commenced.

In the case of a domestic arbitration agreement any agreement to exclude the jurisdiction of the court under— is not effective unless entered into after the commencement of the arbitral proceedings in which the question arises or the award is made.

For this purpose the commencement of the arbitral proceedings has the same meaning as in Part I (see section 14).

For the purposes of this section the question whether an arbitration agreement is a domestic arbitration agreement shall be determined by reference to the facts at the time the agreement is entered into.

The Secretary of State may by order repeal or amend the provisions of sections 85 to 87.

An order under this section may contain such supplementary, incidental and transitional provisions as appear to the Secretary of State to be appropriate.

An order under this section shall be made by statutory instrument and no such order shall be made unless a draft of it has been laid before and approved by a resolution of each House of Parliament.

The following sections extend the application of Part 2 (unfair terms) of the Consumer Rights Act 2015 in relation to a term which constitutes an arbitration agreement. For this purpose “arbitration agreement” means an agreement to submit to arbitration present or future disputes or differences (whether or not contractual).

In those sections “the Part” means Part 2 (unfair terms) of the Consumer Rights Act 2015.

Those sections apply whatever the law applicable to the arbitration agreement.

A term which constitutes an arbitration agreement is unfair for the purposes of the Part so far as it relates to a claim for a pecuniary remedy which does not exceed the amount specified by order for the purposes of this section.

Orders under this section may make different provision for different cases and for different purposes.

The power to make orders under this section is exercisable—

Any such order for England and Wales or Scotland shall be made by statutory instrument which shall be subject to annulment in pursuance of a resolution of either House of Parliament.

Any such order for Northern Ireland shall be a statutory rule for the purposes of the Statutory Rules (Northern Ireland) Order 1979 and shall be subject to negative resolution, within the meaning of section 41(6) of the Interpretation Act (Northern Ireland) 1954.

An eligible High Court judge or an official referee may, if in all the circumstances he thinks fit, accept appointment as a sole arbitrator or as umpire by or by virtue of an arbitration agreement.

An eligible High Court judge shall not do so unless the Lord Chief Justice has informed him that, having regard to the state of business in the High Court and the Crown Court, he can be made available.

An official referee shall not do so unless the Lord Chief Justice has informed him that, having regard to the state of official referees’ business, he can be made available.

The fees payable for the services of an eligible High Court judge or official referee as arbitrator or umpire shall be taken in the High Court.

In this section—

The Lord Chief Justice may nominate a senior judge (as defined in section 109(5) of the Constitutional Reform Act 2005) to exercise functions of the Lord Chief Justice under this section.

The provisions of Part I of this Act apply to arbitration before a person appointed under this section with the modifications specified in Schedule 2.

The provisions of Part I apply to every arbitration under an enactment (a “statutory arbitration”), whether the enactment was passed or made before or after the commencement of this Act, subject to the adaptations and exclusions specified in sections 95 to 98.

The provisions of Part I do not apply to a statutory arbitration if or to the extent that their application—

In this section and the following provisions of this Part “enactment”—

The provisions of Part I apply to a statutory arbitration—

Every statutory arbitration shall be taken to have its seat in England and Wales or, as the case may be, in Northern Ireland.

The following provisions of Part I apply to a statutory arbitration with the following adaptations.

In section 30(1) (competence of tribunal to rule on its own jurisdiction), the reference in paragraph (a) to whether there is a valid arbitration agreement shall be construed as a reference to whether the enactment applies to the dispute or difference in question.

Section 35 (consolidation of proceedings and concurrent hearings) applies only so as to authorise the consolidation of proceedings, or concurrent hearings in proceedings, under the same enactment.

Section 46 (rules applicable to substance of dispute) applies with the omission of subsection (1)(b) (determination in accordance with considerations agreed by parties).

The Secretary of State may make provision by regulations for adapting or excluding any provision of Part I in relation to statutory arbitrations in general or statutory arbitrations of any particular description.

The power is exercisable whether the enactment concerned is passed or made before or after the commencement of this Act.

Regulations under this section shall be made by statutory instrument which shall be subject to annulment in pursuance of a resolution of either House of Parliament.

In this Part a “New York Convention award” means an award made, in pursuance of an arbitration agreement, in the territory of a state (other than the United Kingdom) which is a party to the New York Convention.

For the purposes of subsection (1) and of the provisions of this Part relating to such awards— In this subsection “agreement in writing” and “seat of the arbitration” have the same meaning as in Part I.

If Her Majesty by Order in Council declares that a state specified in the Order is a party to the New York Convention, or is a party in respect of any territory so specified, the Order shall, while in force, be conclusive evidence of that fact.

In this section “the New York Convention” means the Convention on the Recognition and Enforcement of Foreign Arbitral Awards adopted by the United Nations Conference on International Commercial Arbitration on 10th June 1958.

A New York Convention award shall be recognised as binding on the persons as between whom it was made, and may accordingly be relied on by those persons by way of defence, set-off or otherwise in any legal proceedings in England and Wales or Northern Ireland.

A New York Convention award may, by leave of the court, be enforced in the same manner as a judgment or order of the court to the same effect. As to the meaning of “the court” see section 105.

Where leave is so given, judgment may be entered in terms of the award.

A party seeking the recognition or enforcement of a New York Convention award must produce—

If the award or agreement is in a foreign language, the party must also produce a translation of it certified by an official or sworn translator or by a diplomatic or consular agent.

Recognition or enforcement of a New York Convention award shall not be refused except in the following cases.

Recognition or enforcement of the award may be refused if the person against whom it is invoked proves—

Recognition or enforcement of the award may also be refused if the award is in respect of a matter which is not capable of settlement by arbitration, or if it would be contrary to public policy to recognise or enforce the award.

An award which contains decisions on matters not submitted to arbitration may be recognised or enforced to the extent that it contains decisions on matters submitted to arbitration which can be separated from those on matters not so submitted.

Where an application for the setting aside or suspension of the award has been made to such a competent authority as is mentioned in subsection (2)(f), the court before which the award is sought to be relied upon may, if it considers it proper, adjourn the decision on the recognition or enforcement of the award. It may also on the application of the party claiming recognition or enforcement of the award order the other party to give suitable security.