The Arbitration of Doom – A talk by Andrew Pearson of 7KBW

A tribunal that should never have been appointed. A claim that should never have been brought. A hearing that should never have taken place. This talk explores the “arbitration of doom”: a case study in how arbitral proceedings go wrong, stage by stage. From defective appointments, through hopeless pleadings, to procedural missteps and compromised awards, it examines the points at which arbitration departs from its promise of efficiency and becomes something slower, costlier, and more dangerous.

Drawing on recent authorities and practical experience, it considers both sides of the problem: what parties do badly, and what tribunals do worse. It also addresses the limits of modern reforms — including summary disposal — and the continuing tension between robust case management and the risk of apparent bias. The focus throughout is practical. What can go wrong. Why it goes wrong. And, critically, what can still be done about it.