THE USUAL SUSPECTS PROJECT: DECIPHERING DECISION-MAKING IN ARBITRATOR SELECTION

The Hong Kong International Arbitration Centre (HKIAC) and Cortex Capital have launched a collaboration called ‘The Usual Suspects Project’ with the support of a number of organisations including Herbert Smith Freehills. The project examines the decision-making process behind the selection of party-appointed arbitrators. The project will also reveal how factors such as diversity are considered … Read more

Australian court sets a high bar for challenges to arbitrators

The Supreme Court of New South Wales has recently confirmed that, in Australia, the relevant test for challenges to the independence or impartiality of arbitrators is the ‘real danger of bias’ test, rather than the lower threshold of the ‘reasonable apprehension of bias’ test applicable at common law. Read more

Indian Supreme Court orders arbitrator backlog to be cleared

The Indian Supreme Court has directed the High Courts to decide within six months applications to appoint arbitrators that have been pending for over a year.  While the judgment will help reduce a large backlog, it highlights the importance of designating an arbitral institution to oversee the case and appoint the arbitrators to avoid the … Read more

Arbitrators’ independence and impartiality—a new decision from the International Chamber of the Paris Court of Appeal (Rio Tinto France and Rio Tinto Alcan Inc v SAS Alteo Gardanne)

HSF Senior Associate Vincent Bouvard has authored an article for LexisPSL on the recent decision of the International Chamber of the Paris Court of Appeal in Rio Tinto France and Rio Tinto Alcan Inc v SAS Alteo Gardanne on arbitrators’ independence and impartiality. The article can be found here. This analysis was first published on Lexis®PSL … Read more

DELOS LAUNCHES OPEN ACCESS ARBITRATOR DATABASE TO IMPROVE DIVERSITY

Independent arbitration institution Delos has created a free, open access database of arbitrators, in a bid to increase the pool of arbitrators and foster diversity in appointments. The database is open to all at no cost, and any arbitrator can post a profile – no previous appointments are required. Arbitrators can choose the information they … Read more

HSF’S PAULA HODGES QC TO PARTICIPATE IN THE VAARB-CIArb INTERACTIVE ROUNDTABLE: “INSTITUTIONAL REFORMS – TRANSFORMING INTERNATIONAL ARBITRATION”

Head of HSF’s Global Arbitration Practice and President of the London Court of International Arbitration (LCIA) Court, Paula Hodges QC, will be taking part in the joint Vietnam Academy for Arbitration-CIArb Vietnam Chapter roundtable discussion on “Institutional Reforms – Transforming International Arbitration“, taking place on Wednesday 8 September 2021. Read more

AN “EXCEPTIONAL YEAR” FOR THE LONDON COURT OF INTERNATIONAL ARBITRATION

The London Court of International Arbitration (the LCIA) has released its Casework Report for 2020. The statistics in the Report show an “exceptional year” and a continuing picture of growth for the institution. The statistics also show a gradual “internationalisation” of the LCIA’s caseload while also demonstrating the institution’s long-standing commitment towards improving the diversity … Read more