International Commercial Arbitration. A Handbook by Mark Huleatt-Jones and Nicholas Gould

Abstract

Texts devoted to arbitration law and practice appear to err consistently on the side of scale – the noun ‘tome’ springs to mind. Slimline and intellectually fit texts are not as abundant as might be wished. Introductory texts are a particularly rare species. The present book is an exception to this rarity. It is described as A Handbook by the co-authors, meaning a succinct overview, highlighting the significant features and developments, and presented in such a way as to facilitate ready access by the reader. The co-authors are described as London solicitors with experience in the practice of international commercial arbitration and consequently should be well-positioned to identify the essential characteristics and antecedents of the international commercial arbitral process. To write and analyse in a general light vein on a subject as broad, detailed and various as international arbitration is a challenging task. It is also an exercise so wholly out of harmony with our times, with its emphasis on ever-narrower fields of specialism, even within a discrete category. Notwithstanding the difficulties the authors have produced an effective and clear introductory text.