Arbitration practitioners have widely welcomed the regime ushered in by the Arbitration Act 2025, which comes into force today. The measure, which received Royal Assent in February, updates the Arbitration Act 1996. It introduces a default position about the choice of applicable law and requires arbitrators to declare upfront any potential conflicts of interest. It also improves arbitrators’ protection from legal risks and creates a summary dismissal procedure for hopeless cases.