Legal developments in arbitration and interstate commerce

The United States Supreme Court recently issued a ruling in Flowers Foods v. Brock, rejecting a narrow interpretation of interstate commerce. The case involved a Colorado-based delivery driver, Angelo Brock, who argued that his local deliveries were part of interstate commerce despite never crossing state lines. This decision impacts whether delivery drivers and gig workers can pursue claims in court or are restricted to arbitration agreements.

In the United Kingdom, the English Commercial Court Report for the 2024-2025 legal year shows that arbitration-related claims accounted for approximately 30% of the 1,140 new claims issued. Arbitration matters represented the second largest category of new claims, with appeals on points of law under the Arbitration Act 1996 seeing a 38% increase in applications. The report highlights London's ongoing role as a major arbitral seat, though the impact of the Arbitration Act 2025 remains to be seen.