Scope of the arbitration clause

In Norscot Rig Management PVT Ltd v Essar Oilfields Services Ltd [2010] EWHC 195 Burton J considered whether disputes arising under earlier contracts between the parties fell within the scope of an arbitration clause contained in a later contract, so that they could be brought into the arbitraton by way of set-off. The learned judge was satisfied that the contracts were sufficiently closely connected to justify a finding that the set-off at the very least ‘related to’ the later contract, as required by the arbitration clause.