The International Center for Conciliation and Arbitration (CICA) has welcomed the approval of a new law that modernises and unifies arbitration in Costa Rica. The new law establishes a monistic system based on the UNCITRAL Model Law and removes the previous regulatory duplicity that existed between the RAC Law and the International Commercial Arbitration Law. The reform aims to provide arbitration that is more efficient and less costly, with the hope to increase competitiveness and attract new investors.

The China International Commercial Court (CICC) has announced that China’s newly revised Arbitration Law, which replaces the 1995 Arbitration Law, took effect on 1 March 2026. The amendment expands provisions on international arbitration and introduces a ‘place of arbitration’ system, under which the place of arbitration determines the applicable procedural law and the court with jurisdiction unless the parties agree otherwise. In certain foreign-related maritime disputes and disputes involving enterprises in designated free trade zones, parties may choose to establish ad hoc arbitral tribunals composed of qualified individuals, subject to filing requirements. The revised law clarifies that Chinese arbitration institutions and tribunals may handle international investment arbitration cases in accordance with relevant treaties and aligns provisions on the recognition and enforcement of awards with the Civil Procedure Law. It also revises governance requirements for arbitration institutions, enhances arbitrator qualification and disclosure obligations and formally recognises online arbitration. Procedural changes include expanded mechanisms for confirming the existence of arbitration agreements and a reduction in the time limit for applying to set aside an award from six months to three months, while the law further provides for judicial support for preservation measures prior to the commencement of arbitration and permits tribunals to request assistance in evidence collection.

Capital Investment Decision

The Chartered Institute of Ecology and Environmental Management (CIEEM) has published new best practice guidance on heathland restoration in the UK and Ireland as part of its ‘Rebuilding Nature’ ecological restoration series. The guidance states that heathland habitats have experienced substantial decline, with only around 20% of the UK’s lowland heathland remaining compared with 1800 levels, and identifies upland, lowland and montane heathlands as conservation priorities due to their status as Annex 1 habitats and UK Priority Habitats. It describes heathlands as dynamic ecosystems formed through long-term human disturbance on nutrient-poor soils and highlights their ecological, cultural and social importance, including their role in supporting specialised biodiversity, recreation, carbon sequestration, water retention and flood prevention. The document outlines practical approaches for heathland restoration, creation and translocation, including site assessment, restoration techniques, seed and plant introduction, site preparation, soil and vegetation management, translocation methods, aftercare and monitoring, and includes references, case studies and links to further information for ecologists and land managers.

The Chartered Institute of Ecology and Environmental Management (CIEEM) has published a report, detailing the findings of a recent survey on Biodiversity Net Gain (BNG) for small sites in England. The survey, which received responses from over 250 participants, reveals significant concerns regarding the implementation of mandatory BNG for small sites, eight months after its introduction. In response, the CIEEM has proposed several key reforms, including reviewing the de minimis threshold, introducing a simplified biodiversity tariff system as an optional alternative to offsite credits, modifying the metric for low distinctiveness habitats, improving the use of pre-occupation planning conditions and post-development auditing, and developing local habitat banks offering small-sized biodiversity units, among other recommendations. The CIEEM is also committed to collaborating with the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs and Natural England to refine and improve the BNG approach.

ARCHIVED: This Practice Note has been archived and is not maintained. NOTE: On 5 September 2023, CIETAC introduced new revisions (Revisions) to its current 2015 arbitration rules, in response to the growing needs for flexibility and efficiency in the digital age and evolving practice in international arbitration following a revision plan initiated in April 2021. The Revisions across over 30 articles include digital case management, multi-tiered arbitration agreements, jurisdiction, multi-contract arbitrations, arbitral procedures and other challenging issues. The Revisions will become effective from 1 January 2024, and apply to all CIETAC arbitrations commenced as of that date. CIETAC’s current arbitration rules took effect from 1 January 2015 (the CIETAC Rules 2015). This Practice Note is UNDER REVIEW—it currently reflects CIETAC's structure and role as set out in the CIETAC Rules 2015. This Practice Note covers arbitration under the CIETAC Arbitration Rules 2015 (CIETAC Rules), which, generally, apply to arbitrations accepted by CIETAC on or after 1 January 2015 (CIETAC, art 84). For guidance on arbitration under the CIETAC Rules 2012, see: CIETAC

ARCHIVED: This Practice Note has been archived and is not maintained. NOTE: On 5 September 2023, CIETAC introduced new revisions (Revisions) to its current 2015 arbitration rules, in response to the growing needs for flexibility and efficiency in the digital age and evolving practice in international arbitration following a revision plan initiated in April 2021. The Revisions across over 30 articles include digital case management, multi-tiered arbitration agreements, jurisdiction, multi-contract arbitrations, arbitral procedures and other challenging issues. The Revisions will become effective from 1 January 2024, and apply to all CIETAC arbitrations commenced as of that date. CIETAC’s current arbitration rules took effect from 1 January 2015 (the CIETAC Rules 2015). This Practice Note is UNDER REVIEW—it currently reflects CIETAC's structure and role as set out in the CIETAC Rules 2015. This Practice Note covers arbitration under the CIETAC Arbitration Rules 2015 (CIETAC Rules), which apply to arbitrations accepted by CIETAC on or after 1 January 2015 (CIETAC, art 84) or those CIETAC arbitrations commenced before that date where the parties agree to apply

ARCHIVED: This Practice Note has been archived and is not maintained. NOTE: On 5 September 2023, CIETAC introduced new revisions (Revisions) to its current 2015 arbitration rules, in response to the growing needs for flexibility and efficiency in the digital age and evolving practice in international arbitration following a revision plan initiated in April 2021. The Revisions across over 30 articles include digital case management, multi-tiered arbitration agreements, jurisdiction, multi-contract arbitrations, arbitral procedures and other challenging issues. The Revisions will become effective from 1 January 2024, and apply to all CIETAC arbitrations commenced as of that date. CIETAC’s current arbitration rules took effect from 1 January 2015 (the CIETAC Rules 2015). This Practice Note is UNDER REVIEW—it currently reflects CIETAC's structure and role as set out in the CIETAC Rules 2015. This Practice Note covers arbitration under the CIETAC Arbitration Rules 2015 (CIETAC Rules), which, generally, apply to arbitrations accepted by CIETAC on or after 1 January 2015 (CIETAC, art 84). For guidance on arbitration under the CIETAC Rules 2012, see: CIETAC

ARCHIVED: This Practice Note has been archived and is not maintained. NOTE: On 5 September 2023, CIETAC introduced new revisions (Revisions) to its current 2015 arbitration rules, in response to the growing needs for flexibility and efficiency in the digital age and evolving practice in international arbitration following a revision plan initiated in April 2021. The Revisions across over 30 articles include digital case management, multi-tiered arbitration agreements, jurisdiction, multi-contract arbitrations, arbitral procedures and other challenging issues. The Revisions will become effective from 1 January 2024, and apply to all CIETAC arbitrations commenced as of that date. CIETAC’s current arbitration rules took effect from 1 January 2015 (the CIETAC Rules 2015). This Practice Note is UNDER REVIEW—it currently reflects CIETAC's structure and role as set out in the CIETAC Rules 2015. This Practice Note covers arbitration under the CIETAC Arbitration Rules 2015 (CIETAC Rules), which, generally, apply to arbitrations accepted by CIETAC on or after 1 January 2015 (CIETAC, art 84). For guidance on arbitration under the CIETAC Rules

ARCHIVED: This Practice Note has been archived and is not maintained. NOTE: On 5 September 2023, CIETAC introduced new revisions (Revisions) to its current 2015 arbitration rules, in response to the growing needs for flexibility and efficiency in the digital age and evolving practice in international arbitration following a revision plan initiated in April 2021. The Revisions across over 30 articles include digital case management, multi-tiered arbitration agreements, jurisdiction, multi-contract arbitrations, arbitral procedures and other challenging issues. The Revisions will become effective from 1 January 2024, and apply to all CIETAC arbitrations commenced as of that date. CIETAC’s current arbitration rules took effect from 1 January 2015 (the CIETAC Rules 2015). This Practice Note is UNDER REVIEW—it currently reflects CIETAC's structure and role as set out in the CIETAC Rules 2015. This Practice Note covers arbitration under the CIETAC Arbitration Rules 2015 (CIETAC Rules), which, generally, apply to arbitrations accepted by CIETAC on or after 1 January 2015 (CIETAC, art 84). For guidance on arbitration under the CIETAC Rules 2012, see: CIETAC

ARCHIVED: This Practice Note has been archived and is not maintained. NOTE: On 5 September 2023, CIETAC introduced new revisions (Revisions) to its current 2015 arbitration rules, in response to the growing needs for flexibility and efficiency in the digital age and evolving practice in international arbitration following a revision plan initiated in April 2021. The Revisions across over 30 articles include digital case management, multi-tiered arbitration agreements, jurisdiction, multi-contract arbitrations, arbitral procedures and other challenging issues. The Revisions will become effective from 1 January 2024, and apply to all CIETAC arbitrations commenced as of that date. CIETAC’s current arbitration rules took effect from 1 January 2015 (the CIETAC Rules 2015). This Practice Note is UNDER REVIEW—it currently reflects CIETAC's structure and role as set out in the CIETAC Rules 2015. This Practice Note covers arbitration under the CIETAC Arbitration Rules 2015 (CIETAC Rules), which, generally, apply to arbitrations accepted by CIETAC on or after 1 January 2015 (CIETAC, art 84). For guidance on arbitration under the CIETAC Rules 2012, see: CIETAC

ARCHIVED: This Practice Note has been archived and is not maintained. NOTE: On 5 September 2023, CIETAC introduced new revisions (Revisions) to its current 2015 arbitration rules, in response to the growing needs for flexibility and efficiency in the digital age and evolving practice in international arbitration following a revision plan initiated in April 2021. The Revisions across over 30 articles include digital case management, multi-tiered arbitration agreements, jurisdiction, multi-contract arbitrations, arbitral procedures and other challenging issues. The Revisions will become effective from 1 January 2024, and apply to all CIETAC arbitrations commenced as of that date. CIETAC’s current arbitration rules took effect from 1 January 2015 (the CIETAC Rules 2015). This Practice Note is UNDER REVIEW—it currently reflects CIETAC's structure and role as set out in the CIETAC Rules 2015. This Practice Note covers arbitration under the CIETAC Arbitration Rules 2015 (CIETAC Rules), which, generally, apply to arbitrations accepted by CIETAC on or after 1 January 2015 (CIETAC, art 84). For guidance on arbitration under the CIETAC Rules 2012, see: CIETAC