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11 June 2021 / Masood Ahmed
Issue: 7936 / Categories: Features , Arbitration , Procedure & practice , ADR
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Challenging arbitral awards: A welcome reminder

Masood Ahmed examines the scenario of challenging arbitral awards for inadequate reasons
  • Islamic Republic of Pakistan and another v Broadsheet LLC: serious irregularity—challenging an arbitral award; the parties’ submission; the judgment; comment.

In Islamic Republic of Pakistan and another v Broadsheet LLC [2019] EWHC 1832 (Comm), the claimants (the respondents in the arbitration) challenged an arbitral award for serious irregularity under s 68 of the Arbitration Act 1996. Relying on ss 68(2)(c) and 68(2)(h), the claimants alleged that a serious irregularity had occurred because the arbitral tribunal had failed to provide adequate reasons in the award. The essential issue for Mrs Justice Moulder was whether ‘inadequate reasons’ could be founded on a challenge under s 68(2)(c) and/or (h).

Serious irregularity

A party may, pursuant to s 68, challenge an arbitral award for serious irregularity affecting the tribunal, the proceedings or the award which the court may consider has caused or will cause ‘substantial injustice’ to the applicant. It should be noted that the requirement of substantial injustice

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MOVERS & SHAKERS

Laytons ETL—Maximilian Kraitt

Laytons ETL—Maximilian Kraitt

Commercial firm strengthens real estate disputes team with associate hire

Switalskis—three appointments

Switalskis—three appointments

Firm appoints three directors to board

Browne Jacobson—seven promotions

Browne Jacobson—seven promotions

Six promoted to partner and one to legal director across UK and Ireland offices

NEWS

From blockbuster judgments to procedural shake-ups, the courts are busy reshaping litigation practice. Writing in NLJ this week, Professor Dominic Regan of City Law School hails the Court of Appeal's 'exquisite judgment’ in Mazur restoring the role of supervised non-qualified staff, and highlights a ‘mammoth’ damages ruling likened to War and Peace, alongside guidance on medical reporting fees, where a pragmatic 25% uplift was imposed

Momentum is building behind proposals to restrict children’s access to social media—but the legal and practical challenges are formidable. In NLJ this week, Nick Smallwood of Mills & Reeve examines global moves, including Australia’s under-16 ban and the UK's consultation
Reforms designed to rebalance landlord-tenant relations may instead penalise leaseholders themselves. In this week's NLJ, Mike Somekh of The Freehold Collective warns that the Leasehold and Freehold Reform Act 2024 risks creating an ‘underclass’ of resident-controlled freehold companies
Timing is everything—and the Court of Appeal has delivered clarity on when proceedings are ‘brought’. In his latest 'Civil way' column for NLJ, Stephen Gold explains that a claim is issued for limitation purposes when the claim form is delivered to the court, even if fees are underpaid
The traditional ‘single, intensive day’ of financial dispute resolution (FDR) may be due for a rethink. Writing in NLJ this week, Rachel Frost-Smith and Lauren Guiler of Birketts propose a ‘split FDR’ model, separating judicial evaluation from negotiation
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