Keren and Andrew Tweeddale
£29.95 plus postage and packing
Available from: Construction Books Direct 01344 630810
CBD stock number: 2790
First impressions are of a well-packaged and reasonably priced book. This is essentially a reference work rather than a book to be read cover to cover. The structure does not slavishly follow the 1996 Arbitration Act but groups issues into a logical format: proceedings, agreements, parties, tribunals, court powers, awards, challenges and costs.
The authors include a large section on the main principles in the growing area of international arbitration law. Indeed, they observe that historically, one of the driving forces for positive change in arbitration law in the UK was a need to meet the requirements of international arbitration.
The first three chapters provide an interesting overview of arbitration's historical antecedents and cover its evolution up to the 1996 Arbitration Act. Setting arbitration in a historical context, they remind us of the hit-and-miss affair arbitration was for merchants and tradesmen in the 15th to 17th centuries and emphasise the evolution and growing sophistication of arbitration to the present day. The appendices include copies of the 1950 and 1996 Arbitration Acts. They also include pertinent extracts from the Civil Jurisdiction and Judgements Act 1982, and Civil Procedure Rules, which are referred to in the text.
While citing criticisms levelled at arbitration, the authors also note the consensual nature of the process and the fact that it belongs to parties, though courts keep a watchful eye.
The writing is relaxed and easy to follow, and sections are clearly sign-posted. At first glance, the title might lead one to assume the book is a practical guide to arbitration procedure. It is not, although there are examples of arbitration documentation in chapter 21. However, the book is packed with analysis and reference information and is likely to be a must not only for students and educators, but also for solicitors, claims consultants and commercial individuals whose working lives are touched by arbitration.
Source
Construction Manager
