Overlapping arbitration and litigation: when can the court step in?

Courts have the power to enforce arbitration agreements and stay litigation in favour of arbitration. But can the reverse be true—can an arbitration be stayed in favour of litigation to avoid a multiplicity of proceedings? This article studies Canadian Natural Resources Limited v Flatiron Constructors Canada Limited, 2018 ABQB 613, where the Court stayed an arbitration and allowed overlapping litigation to proceed first. We explore the risks associated with parallel litigation and arbitration with overlapping issues, including how the Court deals with subrogated claims, litigants who are strangers to arbitration agreements, and concerns and risks inherent in overlapping proceedings.

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