Understanding arbitration under the Arbitration Act 1996

What is arbitration?

This Practice Note provides an introduction to arbitration, focusing on its key features, including party autonomy, procedural flexibility in arbitration, choice of seat or forum and arbitrators (the tribunal), privity and confidentiality, separability of the arbitration agreement, and enforcement of awards.

The Practice Note also sets out why these matters are important and gives links to more detailed information in each of the specific areas. While the Practice Note focuses on arbitration under the English Arbitration Act 1996 (arbitration under the AA 1996), the features of arbitration are more widely applicable in ad hoc and institutional arbitration as well as arbitration in other jurisdictions.

For more detail, see Practice Note: Arbitration—an introduction to the key features of arbitration

What is international arbitration?

This Practice Note provides an introduction to international arbitration, setting out what that term is commonly taken to mean. It includes a discussion of the meaning of the word ‘arbitration’ and the term ‘commercial arbitration’. The Practice Note discusses key concepts in international arbitration, including international arbitral institutions, the tribunal, the arbitration agreement and