The Asian International Arbitration Centre (AIAC) has established its first branch outside Kuala Lumpur in Kuching, Sarawak, with the support of the Government of Sarawak. The parties formalised an agreement on 19 October 2026 as part of the AIAC’s institutional reform programme. The branch aims to improve access to alternative dispute resolution (ADR), support the effective resolution of commercial disputes and advance Sarawak’s investment objectives under its Post-Covid-19 Development Strategy 2030. It also seeks to strengthen regional ADR collaboration, develop local talent and create employment opportunities.

The Asian International Arbitration Centre (AIAC) has launched its 2026 Suite of Rules during Asia ADR Week 2025, with the new rules coming into force on 1 January 2026. The launch coincides with the enforcement of the Arbitration (Amendment) Act 2024 and the Construction Industry Payment and Adjudication (Amendment) Act 2024. The 2026 Suite introduces an integrated framework covering arbitration, mediation, adjudication, Islamic arbitration, sports arbitration and domain name dispute resolution. Central to the reform is the establishment of the AIAC Court of Arbitration, designed to reinforce institutional independence and set new regional benchmarks for best practice.

The Asian International Arbitration Centre (AIAC) has published its 2024 annual report, setting out institutional reform initiatives, including governance and structural developments, key leadership appointments and foundational measures intended to strengthen its position as an international arbitral institution. The report notes an increase in caseloads, ongoing capacity-building programmes and continued engagement and partnerships with regional and international stakeholders. AIAC has indicated that further developments will be covered in its 2025 annual report.

The Asian International Arbitration Centre (AIAC) has published the Protocol for the Administration of Arbitrations pursuant to the UNCITRAL Arbitration Rules, which came into effect on 1 January 2026. The Protocol applies to arbitrations where the parties and or the arbitral tribunal have agreed that the proceedings will administered by the AIAC under the UNCITRAL Arbitration Rules. By adopting the Protocol, parties will be deemed to accept the AIAC as the designated appointing and administering authority for the arbitration.

The Asian International Arbitration Centre (AIAC) has announced that it will host the Insurance Arbitration Forum 2026 in collaboration with the ARIAS Asia. The event titled ‘Integrating Expertise and Dispute Resolution: Insurance Arbitration in Focus’ will be held on 31 March 2026 at the AIAC Auditorium, Bangunan Sulaiman, Kuala Lumpur, with virtual attendance available via Zoom. The forum will focus on the Malaysian insurance arbitration landscape as well as the broader international context. The programme will comprise two sessions featuring expert panellists who will: (1) discuss the commercial viability of arbitration as a dispute resolution pathway for insurance-related disputes; (2) address the fundamentals of insurance arbitration and (3) explore key elements and practical challenges in drafting insurance arbitration agreements.

The Artificial Intelligence Board (AIB) and Medical Device Coordination Group (MDCG) have published joint guidance (AIB 2025-1/MDCG 2025-6) clarifying the interaction between Regulation (EU) 2017/745 (Medical Devices Regulation (MDR)), Regulation (EU) 2017/746 (In vitro Diagnostic Medical Devices Regulation (IVDR)) and EU Artificial Intelligence Act (EU AI Act). The guidance establishes classification criteria for high-risk Medical Device Artificial Intelligence (MDAI), conformity assessment procedures, and requirements for data governance, human oversight and transparency. It outlines when MDAI systems require third-party conformity assessment and details post-market monitoring obligations. The document also clarifies substantial modification requirements and implementation timelines, with key provisions taking effect from 2 August 2027.

Alternative / Emergency Indication Centre

The Association of Investment Companies (AIC) has expressed frustration that the government has not amended the Pension Schemes Bill to permit pension schemes to meet requirements to invest in private assets via listed investment companies. The Bill gives ministers powers to compel schemes to allocate a portion of portfolios to private assets, but under the current drafting, investment through listed vehicles is excluded. The Bill completed the Public Bill Committee stage in the House of Commons without amendments being introduced relating to investment trusts.  AIC Chief Executive Richard Stone warned that this risks limiting competition, raising costs and reducing quality for savers. The AIC noted investment companies have already committed over £110bn to private assets including infrastructure, renewables, property, venture capital and private businesses, and said they are a proven route for pension schemes to access such investments. The government has been urged to make amendments as the Bill passes through the House of Lords.

The Association of Investment Companies (AIC) is urging HM Treasury (HMT) to include venture capital trusts (VCTs) in draft legislation to exempt investment companies from the requirement to produce packaged retail investment and insurance products key information documents (PRIIPs KIDs).The AIC expressed disappointment that the draft legislation does not include VCTs, saying cost disclosures mandated by PRIIPs and the Markets in Financial Instruments Directive (MiFID) are ‘widely accepted to be misleading’.

Insert the following new definition to clause 1.1 in Precedent: Investment agreement—single investor or Investment agreement—multiple investors: AIFM Regulations • means Alternative Investment Fund Managers Regulations 2013 (SI 2013/1773); General Partner • means general partner, operator or manager of an Investor authorised from time to time by an Investor and any other person or persons nominated by an Investor to act on its behalf; Insert new clause 9 in Precedent: Investment agreement—single investor

Ireland-Banking & Financial Service analysis: This article, was written by A&L Goodbody’s Asset Management and Investment Funds Team.

Ireland—Banking & Financial Services analysis: This article was written by A&L Goodbody’s Asset Management & Investment Funds team. It covers the Central Bank of Ireland’s (CBI) authorisation process note outlining a streamlined authorisation process for Irish alternative investment fund managers (AIFMs) managing alternative investment funds (AIFs) that originate loans to obtain approval for the new AIFM function of loan origination under AIFMD II by the implementation deadline of 16 April 2026.