INTRODUCTION AND TAKEAWAY In a recent decision, the Supreme Court of New South Wales set aside an arbitral award on the basis that the arbitrator had failed to give one party a proper opportunity to present its case. While there is a high bar for judicial intervention in arbitration proceedings, Australian courts will act to … Read more

A drawcard for arbitration is its flexible nature, which makes it a suitable mechanism for resolving a wide range of bespoke disputes. This flexibility can allow a tribunal to resolve disputes in accordance with specific laws and procedures which the parties select – including non-municipal systems of law. Read more

The Supreme Court of Western Australia has confirmed that the appropriate test for determining whether there were any ‘justifiable doubts’ as to the independence or impartiality of an arbitrator, under the Commercial Arbitration Act 2012 (WA) (CAA)[1] is whether there is a ‘real danger of bias’. In making its decision, the Court largely applied and … Read more

In Power and Water Corporation v ENI Australia B.V [2022] WASC 376 the Supreme Court of Western Australia has provided clarification on the use of ‘urgent relief’ clauses, which permit parties to an arbitration agreement to obtain urgent relief from a court. Read more

The Australian Centre for International Commercial Arbitration (ACICA) has released its report: ‘Reflections on the Last Decade of Activity at ACICA’, in celebration of 10 years since significant legislative reforms were made to increase the efficiency and effectiveness of arbitration in Australia. The report coincided with the 10th anniversary of the annual Australian Arbitration week … Read more

The Supreme Court of Western Australia recently decided a rare application to appeal arbitral awards pursuant to s 34A of the Commercial Arbitration Act 2012 (WA) (CAA). Under s 34A, of the CAA a court can only grant leave to appeal if, among other things, the parties to the award consent to the appeal. The … Read more

In a recent decision, the Australian Federal Court of Appeal refused an anti-suit injunction which sought to prevent the commencement of arbitral proceedings in England, in relation to a dispute arising out of a bill of lading for cargo transported between South Australia and Queensland. The Court determined that the ‘mandatory jurisdiction’ provision of the … Read more

In a recent decision, the Supreme Court of New South Wales held that ongoing arbitral proceedings did not prevent a party from calling upon a guarantee in relation to the primary contract. The key takeaways are as follows: A party will not, prima facie, be precluded from calling upon a guarantee for the sole reason … Read more