Summary

Introduction

These are the grounds of my decision dismissing the claimant's application to challenge an arbitrator for apparent bias. This challenge application was brought after my earlier decision (as between the same parties) that apparent bias was a hopeless basis on which to set aside a partial award in the arbitration.

Background

The Arbitration and the First Partial Award

The claimant ("Contractor") and respondent ("Sub-Contractor") are involved in a Singapore-seated ICC arbitration ("the Arbitration"), with a three-member arbitral tribunal ("the Tribunal"). The Tribunal issued a First Partial Award on 19 June 2024 to which some corrections were made on 9 October 2024.

Arbitration - Challenge against arbitrator - Apparent bias - Res Judicata - Issue estoppel - UNCITRAL Model Law on International Commercial Arbitration, International Arbitration Act 1994 ("IAA")