The Hong Kong International Arbitration Centre (HKIAC) has published a study on arbitrators’ hourly rates in HKIAC-administered arbitrations and United Nations Commission on International Trade Law (UNCITRAL) arbitrations over a five-year review period (1 January 2020–31 December 2024). The report, based on over 1,400 appointments and confirmations, shows that hourly rates generally correlate with the amount in dispute, with presiding arbitrators charging more than co-arbitrators and sole arbitrators. The most common rates fall between HK$6,000 and HK$6,500, close to the current cap under HKIAC Administered Arbitration Rules (HK$6,500), which will rise to HK$7,500 from January 2026. Rates exceeding the cap were rare, and UNCITRAL cases—where no cap applies—tended to have higher averages. Overall, the highest average rate observed was HK$6,017 for disputes above HK$1bn.

The Hong Kong International Arbitration Centre (HKIAC) has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Oman Commercial Arbitration Centre (OAC), thereby strengthening institutional co-operation between Hong Kong and the Middle East. The MoU was signed on 27 October 2025 in Seoul by the Secretary-General of HKIAC, Ms Joanne Lau, and the Chief Executive Officer of OAC, Dr Abdullah Al Mandhari. It establishes a framework for joint initiatives, professional exchanges and the sharing of institutional expertise between the two institutions. The MoU also highlights both institutions’ shared commitment to enhancing engagement between Hong Kong and the Middle East and to supporting global discussions on arbitration and dispute resolution.

The Hong Kong International Arbitration Centre (HKIAC) has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Vietnam International Arbitration Centre (VIAC), formalising cooperation between the two institutions. The MoU was signed on 23 October 2025 in Hong Kong during Hong Kong Arbitration Week 2025 by the Secretary-General of HKIAC, Ms Joanne Lau, and the President of VIAC, Professor Le Hong Hanh. Under the MoU, HKIAC and VIAC will exchange information on legislative and jurisprudential developments and support each other’s initiatives through cross-promotion of events and activities. The MoU highlights both institutions’ shared commitment to fostering dialogue and advancing arbitration and mediation standards across Asia, contributing to the growth of regional dispute resolution networks.

This Practice Note provides information on the Hong Kong International Arbitration Centre (HKIAC)’s background and structure. What is the Hong Kong International Arbitration Centre (HKIAC)? The HKIAC is one of the leading dispute resolution service providers in the Asia-Pacific region and the world. It was established in 1985 by a group of leading business professionals, in view of the growing need for arbitral services in Asia and, in particular, Hong Kong. The HKIAC was originally formed as a non-profit making entity with support from the Hong Kong government and the business community. Today, the HKIAC manages its own operations and is financially self-sufficient, and ‘completely free and independent from any type of influence or control’. The HKIAC plays a leading role in the promotion of arbitration in the region, including the organisation of Hong Kong Arbitration Week. Established to promote the use of arbitration as a method of dispute resolution, the role of the HKIAC is mainly to

The House of Lords Communications and Digital Committee has published the first report, Large language models (LLMs) and generative artificial intelligence (AI), as part of its inquiry on LLMs. The report suggests that the government has ‘pivoted too far’ towards a narrow focus on high-stakes AI safety and a rebalance is needed with a greater focus on near-term risks. The report also points to market power and regulatory capture by vested interests as needing urgent attention and calls for the government and regulators to prioritse open competition and transparency. The report sets out a number of key measures and recommendations including more support for AI start-ups, support for copyright holders (including measures such as ways for rightsholders to check training data for copyright breaches), boosting computing infrastructure and exploring options for an ‘in-house’ sovereign UK large language model.

High-Level Waste: Radioactive wastes that are highly radioactive materials, usually produced as a by-product of reactions which occur inside nuclear reactors. HLW takes one of two forms: (a) spent (used) reactor fuel when it is accepted for disposal; or (b) waste materials remaining after spent fuel has been reprocessed. HLW is heat-generating and, as a result, the temperature of HLW can rise significantly over time. This has to be taken into account when designing storage or disposal facilities, for example those at Sellafield and Dounreay.

HM Crown Prosecution Service Inspectorate (HMCPSI) has announced that it will prioritise a planned inspection of the Serious Fraud Office (SFO) following the collapse of a bribery prosecution linked to disclosure failings. In light of these recent disclosure issues, HMCPSI has confirmed that it will bring forward its scheduled review of the SFO. In response to enquiries from Law360, a LexisNexis® company, a spokesperson for HMCPSI said on 13 February 2026 that the inspectorate will begin an inspection of the SFO in May 2026. The decision follows the SFO’s discontinuation of a long-running bribery prosecution after issues emerged concerning disclosure. HMCPSI is set to publish a review this spring on the SFO’s use of external counsel.

The repository for the Register of Title.

Following the repeal of the Enduring Powers of Attorney Act 1985 by the Mental Capacity Act 2005 (MCA 2005), with effect from 1 October 2007, no enduring power of attorney (EPA) can be created after that date. However, an EPA created before that date remains valid, and will survive the subsequent mental incapacity of the donor of the power. Once the donor becomes mentally incapable, however, the attorney under

HM Land Registry has amended section 5.9.3 of existing Practice Guide 64 on prescribed clause leases to explain that the right for a landlord to apply to the court for an order for possession under section 61 of the Leasehold Reform Housing and Urban Development Act 1993 is a statutory not a contractual right and should not be entered in clause 9.3.​

HM Land Registry has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Ordnance Survey (OS) to enhance data accessibility in the housing and geospatial sectors over a three-year period. The MoU covers strategic alignment of geospatial roadmaps, data distribution via OS's DataHub and knowledge exchange on licensing and compliance. Stated benefits include fraud reduction in property title duplication and improved identification of property insurance risk. The collaboration supports the government's 2024–26 strategic plan to deliver 1.5 million new homes, with properties in England and Wales valued at nearly £9 trillion and approximately £1.66 trillion of lending secured against them.

HM Land Registry (HMLR) has announced a £4 increase in its information services fees, effective from 9 December 2024, representing the first increase in over a decade. This increase aims to support service improvement through digital transformation and reflects the increased costs of running and improving HMLR’s services. HMLR customers with automated systems are advised to implement the changes to their systems before the increased fees come into effect.