Part I

Arbitration pursuant to an arbitration agreement

The arbitration agreement

Law applicable to arbitration agreement
6A
1
The law applicable to an arbitration agreement is—
a
the law that the parties expressly agree applies to the arbitration agreement, or
b
where no such agreement is made, the law of the seat of the arbitration in question.
2
For the purposes of subsection (1), agreement between the parties that a particular law applies to an agreement of which the arbitration agreement forms a part does not constitute express agreement that that law also applies to the arbitration agreement.
3
Subsection (1) does not apply to an arbitration agreement derived from a standing offer to submit disputes to arbitration where the offer is contained in—
a
a treaty, or
b
legislation of a country or territory outside the United Kingdom.
4
In this section—
- “
legislation
” includes any provision of a legislative character;
- “
treaty
” includes any international agreement (and any protocol or annex to a treaty or international agreement).
Pt. 1 excluded (E.W.) (1.11.1996) by 1996 c. 56, s. 336(4), 476(4), 582(4), Sch. 40, para. 4 (with s. 1(4))
Pt. 1 excluded (31.1.1997) by 1988 c. 8, s. 6 (as substituted (31.1.1997) by 1996 c. 23, s. 107(1), Sch. 3 para. 49; S.I. 1996/3146, art. 3 (with art. 4, Sch. 2))
Pt. 1 excluded (N.I.) (1.3.1999) by S.I. 1998/3162 (N.I. 21), art. 89(6); S.R. 1999/81, art. 3
Pt. 1 (ss. 1-84) excluded (E.W.) by 1998 c. 14, s. 16(9) (which is in force: at 4.3.1999 for specified purposes by S.I. 1999/528, art. 2(a), Sch.; at 5.7.1999 for specified purposes by S.I. 1999/1958, art. 2(1)(b), Sch. 1 (with transitional provisions in Sch. 12, and as amended by S.I. 1999/3178, art. 3(20), Sch. 20); at 6.9.1999 for specified purposes by S.I. 1999/2422, art. 2(c), Sch. 1 (subject to transitional provisions in Sch. 14, and as amended by S.I. 1999/3178, art. 3(20), Sch. 20); at 5.10.1999 for specified purposes by S.I. 1999/2739, art. 2, Sch. 1 (subject to transitional provisions in Sch. 2); at 18.10.1999 for specified purposes by S.I. 1999/2860, art. 2(c), Sch. 1 (subject to transitional provisions in Schs. 16-18, and as amended by S.I. 1999/3178, art. 3(20), Sch. 20); 29.11.1999 for specified purposes by S.I. 1999/3178, art. 2(1), Sch. 1 (subject to transitional provisions in s. 5 and Schs. 21-23)
Pt. 1 (ss. 1-84) excluded by S.I. 1998/1506 (N.I. 10), art. 16(9) (which is in force: at 10.3.1999 for specified purposes by S.R. 1999/102, art. 2(a), Sch. Pt. 1; at 5.7.1999 for specified purposes by S.R. 1999/310, art. 2(1)(b), Sch. 1; at 6.9.1999 for specified purposes by S.R. 1999/371, art. 2(b), Sch. 1; at 5.10.1999 for specified purposes by S.R. 1999/407, art. 2(b), Sch.; at 18.10.1999 for specified purposes by S.R. 1999/428, art. 2(b), Sch. 1; at 29.11.1999 for specified purposes by S.R. 1999/472, art. 2(1), Sch. 1)
Pt. 1 excluded (E.W.) (1.9.2000) by 1999 c. 14, ss. 9(4), 14(2); S.I. 2000/2337, art. 2(1)(e)
Pt. 1 excluded (N.I.) (22.11.2000 for specified purposes and otherwise 2.7.2001) by 2000 c. 4, ss. 59, 68, Sch. 7 para. 10 (with s. 66(6)); S.R. 2000/358, art. 2, Sch. Pt. 2; S.R. 2001/141, art 2(1)(c), Sch.
Pt. 1 excluded (E.W.) (2.7.2001) by 2000 c. 19, s. 68, Sch. 7 para. 10(8) (with s. 83(6)); S.I. 2001/1252, art. 2(2)(a)(i)
Pt. 1: specified provisions applied (with modifications) (N.I.) (28.4.2002) by Labour Relations Agency Arbitration Scheme Order (Northern Ireland) 2002 (S.R. 2002/120), art. 3, Sch.
Pt. 1 excluded (22.2.2005 for specified purposes and otherwise 6.4.2005) by Pensions Appeal Tribunals Act 1943 (c. 39), s. 6D(8) (as inserted by Armed Forces (Pensions and Compensation) Act 2004 (c. 32), ss. 5, 8, Sch. 1 para. 4); S.I. 2005/356, art. 2, {Sch. 1, 2}
Pt. 1 excluded (N.I.) (1.3.2005 for specified purposes and otherwise 1.4.2005) by Health and Personal Social Services (Quality, Improvement and Regulation) (Northern Ireland) Order 2003 (S.I. 2003/431 (N.I. 9)), art. 44(4); S.R. 2005/44, arts. 2, 3, Schs. 1, 2 (subject to arts. 4-13)
Pt. 1 excluded (N.I.) (1.9.2005) by The Special Educational Needs and Disability (Northern Ireland) Order 2005 (S.I. 2005/1117 (N.I. 6)), art. 23(5) (with arts. 46, 47); S.R. 2005/336, art. 2, Sch.
Pt. 1 excluded (N.I.) (1.9.2005) by The Education (Northern Ireland) Order 1996 (S.I. 1996/274 (N.I. 1)), art. 23(4) (as substituted by The Special Educational Needs and Disability (Northern Ireland) Order 2005 (S.I. 2005/1117 (N.I. 6)), Sch. 5 para. 7(4); S.R. 2005/336, art. 2, Sch.)
Pt. 1: power to exclude or restrict conferred (19.9.2007) by virtue of Tribunals, Courts and Enforcement Act 2007 (c. 15), ss. 22, 148, Sch. 5 para. 14; S.I. 2007/2709, art. 2(i)
Pt. 1 excluded (3.11.2008) by The Tribunal Procedure (First-tier Tribunal) (Social Entitlement Chamber) Rules 2008 (S.I. 2008/2685), rule 3(2)
Pt. 1 excluded (3.11.2008) by The Tribunal Procedure (First-tier Tribunal) (War Pensions and Armed Forces Compensation Chamber) Rules 2008 (S.I. 2008/2686), rule 3(2)
Pt. 1 excluded (3.11.2008) by The Tribunal Procedure (Upper Tribunal) Rules 2008 (S.I. 2008/2698), rule 3(2)
Pt. 1 excluded (3.11.2008) by The Tribunal Procedure (First-tier Tribunal) (Health, Education and Social Care Chamber) Rules 2008 (S.I. 2008/2699), rule 3(2)
Pt. 1 excluded (1.4.2009) by The Tribunal Procedure (First-tier Tribunal) (Tax Chamber) Rules 2009 (S.I. 2009/273), rule 3(2)
Pt. 1 excluded (1.9.2009) by The Tribunal Procedure (First-tier Tribunal) (General Regulatory Chamber) Rules 2009 (S.I. 2009/1976), rule 3(2)
Pt. 1 excluded (4.8.2010 for specified purposes and otherwise 1.10.2010) by Equality Act 2010 (c. 15), ss. 116(3), 216(3), Sch. 17 para. 6(6); S.I. 2010/1736, art. 2, Sch.; S.I. 2010/1966, art. 2; S.I. 2010/2317, art. 2(9)(k)(i) (with art. 15)
Pt. 1 excluded (1.7.2013) by The Tribunal Procedure (First-tier Tribunal) (Property Chamber) Rules 2013 (S.I. 2013/1169), art. 1(1) rule 4(2) (with art. 2)
Pt. 1 excluded (2.11.2020 for specified purposes, 1.9.2021 in so far as not already in force) by Additional Learning Needs and Education Tribunal (Wales) Act 2018 (anaw 2), ss. 75(4), 100(3); S.I. 2020/1182, reg. 3(1)(i); S.I. 2021/373, art. 8(g)
Pt. 1 modified (24.3.2022) by Commercial Rent (Coronavirus) Act 2022 (c. 12), s. 31(4), Sch. 1 paras. 1, 2 (with s. 30, Sch. 1 para. 3)
S. 6A inserted (1.8.2025) by Arbitration Act 2025 (c. 4), ss. 1(2), 17(2); S.I. 2025/905, reg. 2