France's New Arbitration Decree Of 6 August 2026: Key Takeaways For International Arbitration

France publishes its first proposals for reform of its arbitration law in fifteen years, introducing measures to modernise, improve efficiency and clarify key concepts

The decree is the product of a reform process launched in 2025. At the request of the Ministry of Justice, a working group co-chaired by François Ancel and Professor Thomas Clay submitted a report in the spring of 2025 containing proposals for reforming arbitration law, together with a preliminary draft Arbitration Code. The reform was then announced in April 2025, during Paris Arbitration Week, following a three-stage approach: an initial decree on points of consensus, a consultation phase on issues still under debate, and ultimately the adoption of an Arbitration Code.