AIAC arbitration

SIAC publishes compendium of arbitrator challenge decisions

The Singapore International Arbitration Centre (SIAC) has published a compendium of challenge decisions, comprising redacted versions of decisions issued by the SIAC Court of Arbitration on challenges to arbitrators. The publication aims to enhance transparency and accessibility for parties, counsel and arbitral tribunals regarding SIAC Court decisions, while maintaining the confidentiality of the underlying proceedings.

The Criminal Chamber of the Spanish Supreme Court confirms that the Sole Arbitrator in the Heirs of the Sultan of Sulu v Malaysia case acted in serious disobedience to the court

Arbitration analysis: The Supreme Court of Spain upheld the criminal conviction of a Sole Arbitrator who continued arbitral proceedings after his judicial appointment had been nullified due to defective service on a foreign sovereign. Despite being expressly required by the court clerk to cease acting, the Sole Arbitrator persisted, issued a preliminary award confirming jurisdiction, moved the arbitral seat from Madrid to Paris, and ultimately rendered the final award ordering the respondent State of Malaysia to pay approx. US$ 15bn. The Supreme Court held that the arbitral autonomy cannot justify disregarding a binding judicial decision declaring nullity of the arbitrator’s appointment. Once the appointment proceedings were nullified, the appointment decision was removed from ‘the legal world’ and, thus, the Sole Arbitrator lacked any valid mandate to continue arbitration. This judgment is significant for arbitration practitioners as it draws a line between legitimate resistance to judicial interference and defiance of court authority, which is not permissible. It may also imply potential criminal exposure for arbitrators in similar circumstances. Some observers may view the case as an intrusion into arbitral independence. However, the Supreme Court framed the issue not as judicial control over arbitration itself, but as enforcement of a binding judicial decision concerning the very existence of the arbitrator’s mandate. Written by Malgorzata Judkiewicz-Garvan, independent arbitrator & lecturer in Arbitration.

Yukos shareholders win £66bn judgment against Russia

Law360, London: Investors in Yukos Oil won their battle with the Russian Government on 2 March 2026 as the High Court ruled that the Russian Federation's attempts to quash a £66bn judgment in the investors' favour had already been dismissed by lower courts.

Arbitration weekly highlights—5 March 2026

This week's edition of Arbitration weekly highlights includes: an analysis of the UK Supreme Court guidance on ICSID enforcement, holding that article 54(1) of the ICSID Convention is a clear waiver of adjudicative state immunity under State Immunity Act 1978, s 2(2), alongside other arbitration-related decisions from England and Wales, the UAE, Brazil, Spain, Singapore and the USA, and further updates from AIAC, CEPANI, DIS and FINRA. All this, and more, in our weekly highlights.