AUSTRALIAN ARBITRATION WEEK 2026 – Too Fast, Too Risky? The Upsides and Downsides of Increasingly Expedited Arbitration Processes

Discussion

Several institutional rules have recently sought to expand the availability of expedited arbitration procedure. Some have even introduced ‘highly’ expedited procedures.

Speed and efficiency is one of the (intended) hallmarks of arbitration, and a consistent issue raised by users. However, are the ever-increasingly expedited procedures opening up a risk of rushed awards with no recourse to correct or challenge?

Does agreeing to enter into an expedited process remove any prospect of a challenge on the grounds of procedural fairness?

Will we see parties inflating amounts claimed to exceed the expedited thresholds?

The panel will discuss these, and other, practical upsides and downsides of increasingly expedited arbitration processes.

Speakers

Lucinda Brabazon (Barrister, Level Twenty Seven Chambers)

James Green (Barrister, Level Twenty Seven Chambers)

Janine Thompson (Partner, McGrathNicol)

Moderator

Ryan Cable (Partner, Dentons)

Venue

Dentons Melbourne

Level 43, 600 Bourke St, Melbourne VIC 3000

Schedule

Registration

In-person and online attendance tickets are available here.

View the full AAW 2026 calendar here.