Serious irregularity: reasons for the award

It is a requirement under section 52(4) of the Arbitration Act 1996 that an award is reasoned. In Compton Beauchamp Estates Ltd v Spence [2013] EWHC 1101 (Ch) Morgan J discussed in some detail the meaning of “reasons” and the consequences of a failure to provide reasons. This is an important judgment of potential significance in arbitrations involving valuations and competing expert evidence.

Compton : the facts