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?

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

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

WSP Solicitors—David Ashcroft & Jessica O’Shea

Commercial property and child law teams expand with senior hires

Duxton Hill Chambers—Lucas Bastin KC & Joshua Hiew

Set expands London and Singapore offering with senior international disputes hires

Gilson Gray—Gregor Duthie & Stephen Forsyth

Firm strengthens real estate and litigation teams with partner promotions

NEWS

Read All

NLJ this week: Burnout behind the billable hour

Behind the profession’s polished exterior, lawyers are ‘internally drained rather than physically tired’, according to a stark assessment of burnout in legal practice

NLJ this week: Domestic abuse reforms still falling short

Five years after the Domestic Abuse Act 2021 came into force, concerns remain that the family courts continue to minimise allegations of abuse in child contact disputes

NLJ this week: Uber’s legal shield faces scrutiny on both sides of the Atlantic

Uber has built a formidable strategy for insulating itself from liability for drivers’ conduct, but the legal terrain differs sharply between the US and England and Wales

NLJ this week: Hereditary peers era finally comes to an end

The House of Lords (Hereditary Peers) Act 2026 marks a constitutional watershed by severing the centuries-old link between hereditary titles and automatic membership of the upper chamber

NLJ this week: Is it finally time to scrap Part III?

The Civil Justice Council’s review of Part III of the Solicitors Act 1974 could mark the end of what one commentator calls an ‘outdated’ and overly technical regime governing solicitor-client fee disputes

Error message

A big fish in a small pond?

Background

Background

MOVERS & SHAKERS

WSP Solicitors—David Ashcroft & Jessica O’Shea

Duxton Hill Chambers—Lucas Bastin KC & Joshua Hiew

Gilson Gray—Gregor Duthie & Stephen Forsyth