Book excerpt: England is a leading centre for arbitration, both international and domestic, arising out of all manner of contractual disputes and industry sectors. This book comprises contributions from well-known arbitration practitioners and scholars who present, in a straightforward and readable fashion, the rich and varied nature of arbitration in England today. The early chapters describe the development of the arbitral system in England and its traditional leading institutions, the London Court of International Arbitration (LCIA) and the Chartered Institute of Arbitrators (CIArb). They also provide a unique focus on the specialist areas of commodity, maritime, construction and sports arbitration. The remainder of the book deals with the law and practice of arbitration in England and concludes with two additional overview chapters relating to arbitration in Scotland and the Republic of Ireland respectively. Insightful and practical guidance is given in relation to a number of key areas, including: appointing and challenging arbitrators; applicable law and the influence of EU law; the role of the court, including anti-suit and anti-arbitration injunctions and interim relief; arbitration procedure and practice in ad hoc and institutional arbitrations; factual and expert evidence, including privilege and electronic document production; challenges to, and appeals from, awards; recognition and enforcement of awards; and multilateral and bilateral investment treaty arbitration. Anyone whose pursuits or responsibilities require knowledge of arbitration in England - including practitioners, in-house counsel, business persons, academics, and students around the world - will benefit enormously from this thorough study and analysis of contemporary arbitration practice in the jurisdiction.