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08 October 2009 / Khawar Qureshi KC
Issue: 7388 / Categories: Features , Procedure & practice , Arbitration
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Absolute power

Do English courts have too much power in arbitration proceedings? asks Khawar Qureshi QC

Since the Arbitration Act 1996 (AA 1996) came into force more than 10 years ago, the English courts are generally viewed by practitioners and users alike as having adopted a strong supportive, and non-interventionist approach to the arbitral process.

While there are some commentators who suggest that the English courts have been too concerned to protectively “ring-fence” the arbitral process (not least with regard to sparsity of appeals on points of law pursuant to AA 1996, s 69), a recent decision of the Court of Appeal in the case of Dallah Estate v The Ministry of Religious Affairs Government of Pakistan [2009] EWCA Civ 755, [2009] All ER (D) 199 (Jul) (Dallah) has provided an opportunity to consider whether other commentators are right to contend that the English courts still retain excessive power to intervene, and thus disrupt the arbitral process.

State-ment of intent

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NEWS
Talk of a reserved ‘Welsh seat’ on the Supreme Court is misplaced. In NLJ this week, Professor Graham Zellick KC explains that the Constitutional Reform Act treats ‘England and Wales’ as one jurisdiction, with no statutory Welsh slot
The government’s plan to curb jury trials has sparked ‘jury furore’. Writing in NLJ this week, David Locke, partner at Hill Dickinson, says the rationale is ‘grossly inadequate’
A year after the $1.5bn Bybit heist, crypto fraud is booming—but so is recovery. Writing in NLJ this week, Neil Holloway, founder and CEO of M2 Recovery, warns that scams hit at least $14bn in 2025, fuelled by ‘pig butchering’ cons and AI deepfakes
After Woodcock confirmed no general duty to warn, debate turns to the criminal law. Writing in NLJ this week, Charles Davey of The Barrister Group urges revival of misprision or a modern equivalent
Family courts are tightening control of expert evidence. Writing in NLJ this week, Dr Chris Pamplin says there is ‘no automatic right’ to call experts; attendance must be ‘necessary in the interests of justice’ under FPR Pt 25
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