The Arbitration Act 2025 received Royal Assent on 24 February 2025 and will inform, in many respects, how arbitrations seated in England & Wales are conducted. The UK Government says that the new provisions introduced by the 2025 Act will keep the UK at the forefront as an arbitration centre and should provide a boost to the UK economy generally.

For the past 27 years the Arbitration Act 1996 has been the pillar upon which England and Wales has established itself as a highly respected and trusted jurisdiction under which to conduct International Arbitrations.

In line with every contracting state to the New York Convention 1958, the courts of England & Wales will stay proceedings brought in the courts of England & Wales and refer the parties to arbitration where an agreement to arbitrate exists unless the court finds that the agreement to arbitrate is null and void.