There is an issue for the Chair. She is on notice that a fellow Member of the Board has been seen having a cocktail drink with an Observer attending the Appeal who is a prominent employee of Respondent Buyers.

Please bear in mind that the narrative is fictitious. It bears no relation to any arbitrator. However, the problem of contact between an arbitrator + a party does exist.

A First Tier arbitration is to go to appeal. It is a big one. A large claim and counter-claim. The Parties have agreed to be legally represented.