Stay of proceedings: "In relation to a matter"

Section 9 of the Arbitration Act 1996 requires the English court to stay its proceedings if the dispute coming before it is "in relation to a matter" falling within the parties agreement to arbitrate. The meaning of this phrase has received very little attention in England, a matter put right by the lengthy discussion of Blair J in Autoridad del Canal de Panam¡ v Sacyr SA [2017] EWHC 2228 (Comm).

The case is a complex one, given the large number of relevant agreements entered into by the parties.