English arbitration reforms come into force on 1 August 2025

Statutory instrument establishes date on which much anticipated amendments to the Arbitration Act 1996 will take effect.

The recently published Arbitration Act 2025 (Commencement) Regulations 2025 have set 1 August 2025 as the date on which the substantive reforms to the Arbitration Act 1996 (AA) enacted by the Arbitration Act 2025 (2025 Act) are to come into force (the AA being the main statute that regulates arbitration in England & Wales, and Northern Ireland).

The Regulations do not specify any further transitional or savings provisions beyond those in the 2025 Act itself, so, accordingly, the reforms will apply to any arbitration commenced on or after 1 August 2025 (or any court proceedings in connection with such an arbitration, or award made in such an arbitration), any other court proceedings commenced on or after that date, and otherwise apply to arbitration agreements whenever made (s.17 2025 Act).

For more detail on the reforms enacted by the 2025 Act, and their implications - see our previous ArbitrationLinks blog post, and associated newsletter here.