Amended Act ensures fairness in arbitration law

PARLIAMENT’S enactment of the Arbitration (Amendment) Act 2024, which came into force on Jan 1, 2026, reflects a conscious policy choice to legitimise third-party funding in arbitration while embedding safeguards intended to preserve ethical standards, procedural fairness and the integrity of the arbitral process.

The statutory abolition of the common law rule against maintenance and champerty for arbitration, coupled with mandatory disclosure obligations and the introduction of a code of practice for third-party funding, demonstrates a balanced approach that accepts funding as a reality but subjects it to transparency and oversight.