05 September 2025 / Akshay Misra , Bronagh Adams

Issue: 8129 / Categories: Features , Procedure & practice , Arbitration , Bias , Jurisdiction

A big fish in a small pond?

Akshay Misra & Bronagh Adams on how a recent judgment provides a robust endorsement of the work of the LMAA

The Commercial Court has confirmed that repeat appointments in LMAA arbitrations do not automatically imply bias.

The English Commercial Court in V and another; K v V and another [2025] EWHC 1523 (Comm) has confirmed the high threshold required to challenge arbitral awards on grounds of apparent bias and jurisdictional error. The judgment underscores the robustness of the London Maritime Arbitrators Association (LMAA) framework and highlights the importance of context in the approach to arbitrators’ duties of disclosure. The decision also provides further clarity on the application of the principles established in Halliburton Company v Chubb Bermuda Insurance Ltd [2020] UKSC 48.

Background

The seller, K, terminated a memorandum of agreement for the sale of a vessel after US sanctions were imposed on the buyer, V, by the Office of Foreign Assets Control. V had nominated a related party to take delivery

If you are not a subscriber, subscribe now to read this content

If you are already a subscriber sign in

...or Register for two weeks' free access to subscriber content

A big fish in a small pond?

Issue: 8129 / Categories: Features , Procedure & practice , Arbitration , Bias , Jurisdiction

Akshay Misra & Bronagh Adams on how a recent judgment provides a robust endorsement of the work of the LMAA

The Commercial Court has confirmed that repeat appointments in LMAA arbitrations do not automatically imply bias.

Background

The seller, K, terminated a memorandum of agreement for the sale of a vessel after US sanctions were imposed on the buyer, V, by the Office of Foreign Assets Control. V had nominated a related

If you are not a subscriber, subscribe now to read this content

If you are already a subscriber sign in

...or Register for two weeks' free access to subscriber content

SourceURL:

Links:

E-newsletter Sign-Up

MOVERS & SHAKERS

Read All

Thomson Hayton Winkley—Jordan Wallace

Thomson Hayton Winkley strengthens family law team

Ward Hadaway—Barnaby Rosenthall

Construction lawyer returns to Ward Hadaway in Teesside role

Bird & Bird—Shahin Baghaei

Bird Bird hires leading legal transformation expert

NEWS

Read All

The LexisNexis Legal Aid Deserts Report 2026

Legal aid deserts leave almost one in four without adequate access to justice

SRA sounds warning over AI misuse as reports & investigations mount

The Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA) has warned solicitors and law firms that using artificial intelligence does not alter their professional obligations, amid concerns over inaccurate legal material and client confidentiality

NLJ this week Civil way: Practical procedure lessons & cautionary tales

From forgotten interest claims to case-management appeals, a string of procedural developments offers useful—and occasionally cautionary—lessons for practitioners

NLJ this week: Fraud in the digital age

Jonathan Fisher KC highlights that it now accounts for around 40% of criminal offences, with roughly 70% involving technology, and argues that the UK cannot simply prosecute its way out of the problem. Detection, investigation and prosecution all require improvement, while different fraud types demand tailored responses.

NLJ this week: Right outcome, troubling reasoning?

How forcefully can a litigant criticise a public authority before robust advocacy crosses the line into unreasonable conduct?

Error message

A big fish in a small pond?

Background

Background

MOVERS & SHAKERS

Thomson Hayton Winkley—Jordan Wallace

Ward Hadaway—Barnaby Rosenthall

Bird & Bird—Shahin Baghaei