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The Arbitration Bill Progress Tracker

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On 11 April 2024, Baker McKenzie launched the Arbitration Bill Progress Tracker, hosted on Global Arbitration News. The Tracker provides an overview of the Arbitration Bill, a guide to the key proposed changes and implications if the Bill is passed, and maps out the Bill’s progress, which will be updated regularly.

The UK government asked the Law Commission to review the Arbitration Act 1996 to determine whether any amendments are required in order to ensure that the Act remains fit for purpose and continues to promote the UK as a leading destination for commercial arbitration. The Arbitration Bill was introduced into Parliament on 21 November 2023.

Arbitration Bill re-introduced under Starmer (updated (25 July 2024)

One impact of former Prime Minister Rishi Sunak’s decision to call the general election earlier this year was that the Arbitration Bill’s progress in Parliament was halted.

While other pieces of legislation, such as the Post Office Bill, were rushed through their final stages in both the House of Commons and the House of Lords as part of the “washup” process – where certain, largely uncontroversial bills in their ultimate stages are fast tracked through the legislative process before parliament is dissolved – the fate of the Arbitration Bill was uncertain.

During the ‘extended’ King’s Speech, delivered on 17 July 2024, we received confirmation however that Keir Starmer’s government had intentions to re-introduce the Arbitration Bill in Parliament. We are pleased to report that the new government has moved swiftly, and the Arbitration Bill was re-introduced by Justice Minister Lord Ponsonby on 18 July 2024. Addressing the Parliament, Lord Ponsonby said:

“This government is committed to securing the UK as a world leader in dispute resolution. Modernising the quarter-century old laws around arbitration will make it quicker, cheaper and more efficient for people and businesses looking to settle legal disputes. And helping our world-leading legal services sector to flourish will cement the UK’s position in this high-value sector – worth at least £2.5 billion to the British economy every year.”

Access Arbitration bill progress tracker
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Kate Corby is a partner in Baker McKenzie's London office. She has two decades' experience in representing clients in complex international arbitration under many different arbitral rules, as well as in court litigation, adjudication, expert determination and mediation. Kate specializes in construction and engineering disputes, and in recent years much of her work has involved projects in the Middle East. Kate is ranked in The Legal 500, Chambers and WWL for her arbitration work.

Author

Steve Abraham is a partner in the Firm's Dispute Resolution practice in London. He joined Baker & McKenzie from another leading international firm in January 2013. Steve has extensive experience in international arbitration, adjudication, mediation, expert determination and litigation; he focuses on disputes in the energy, mining and infrastructure sectors. He is also a solicitor advocate. Steve is recognised in his field by Legal 500 and Chambers & Partners. Steve Abraham can be reached at Steve.Abraham@bakermckenzie.com and + 44 20 7919 1440.

Author

Andy is a partner in the Baker McKenzie Dispute Resolution team based in London. He advises clients on international, commercial and investment treaty arbitration as well as in complex, often multijurisdictional litigation, mediations and expert determinations. He also advises clients on issues pertaining to private and public international law. Andy is recommended in Who's Who Legal: Arbitration 2018 and individually ranked in the field of International Arbitration by Chambers UK, who describe him as "a 'superb' practitioner," and "very commercial" and also recognized by Legal 500, who call him "an arbitration doyen."

Author

Edward Poulton is Managing Partner in Baker McKenzie’s London office and a member of the Dispute Resolution team. A key name in the arbitration community, Ed sits as an arbitrator in ICC and LCIA arbitrations, and is the consulting editor of a seminal text on the arbitration of M&A disputes. He also sits on the steering committee for the Firm’s Global International Arbitration Practice Group. Ed is recognised in the fields of international arbitration and public international law by Legal 500 and Chambers & Partners. Ed Poulton can be reached at Ed.Poulton@bakermckenzie.com and +44 20 7919 1606.

Author

Judith Mulholland is a partner in the Dispute Resolution team of Baker McKenzie in London. Judith has considerable experience in international commercial arbitration, including ICC, LCIA, SCC, UNCITRAL and ad hoc arbitration under the Arbitration Act 1996, as well as ancillary and enforcement proceedings before the English Courts. She regularly advises clients on complex and high-value litigation and other forms of alternative dispute resolution.

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