The United Kingdom has enacted the Arbitration Act 2025, introducing targeted amendments to strengthen its arbitration framework. The changes, which received royal assent on February 24, 2025, aim to enhance efficiency, clarity, and judicial restraint in arbitration proceedings.
Key amendments include the default seat-centric rule, which mandates that arbitration agreements be governed by the law of the seat unless otherwise specified.
The Act also limits appeals on jurisdictional grounds, preventing courts from fully rehearing cases already decided by tribunals.
Notably, the Act introduces summary awards, allowing tribunals to dismiss unmeritorious claims without full hearings.