Act 11/2011 of 20th May, amending the Arbitration Act 60/2003, comes into force

The recently adopted Arbitration Law reform, Act 11/2011 of 20 May, amending the Arbitration Act 60/2003, in force as of 10th June 2011, represents a "qualitative leap" in Spanish law that, according to Jesus de Alfonso, chairman of the Barcelona Arbitration Court (TAB) is especially striking in areas such as the definition of statutory arbitration, the opening of the administration of arbitrations to more legal professionals (in addition to law firms), and the introduction of arbitration as a means of conflict resolution in Administration matters. TAB is also very appreciative of the fact that "the legislature has taken into account and decided in accordance with the amendments that TAB, on the basis of 22 years' experience, proposed to the rapporteurs responsible for the Arbitration Act and the members of the Committee on Justice".

"The amendments advance and facilitate arbitration" in the field of private law, according to the analysis of the President of the Barcelona Arbitration Court (TAB), Jesus de Alfonso, who observes that the legislature "has left out some initial technical changes that were not widely sought", while promoting more strategically important aspects: for example, the retention of equity arbitration, the introduction of the concept of corporate arbitration and the prevention of competition as an obstacle to arbitration.