Summary of ALL readings (Redfern&Hunter Chapters 1-11) of the course International Commercial Arbitration (ICA) (3754INQ6HY) in the Master Privaatrecht at the Universiteit of Amsterdam
International Commercial Arbitration:
Week 1: Introduction.
Increasing amount of trade, transnational transactions and investments →
give rise to disputes.
a. Settlement by negotiation.
Parties would want to save money / time on proceedings.
b. Domestic courts.
c. ADR.
o Domestic arbitration for national contracts.
o International arbitration for cross-frontier business
relationships.
International arbitration = legal process in which patties to a dispute
agree to refer that dispute to a tribunal of independent and impartial
arbitrators chosen by the parties to the exclusion of domestic courts.
- Arose from international trade and commercial disputes.
o Merchants in conflict over the price / quality of goods → refer
to a third merchant whose independence and judgement they
trusted.
o Abide by the decision.
Because of expectations in the community of their trade
/ business.
o Decision took account of relevant usages / customs.
- Trade and commerce developed → arbitration became more
formalized.
o Influence of chambers of trade and commerce.
International Chamber of Commerce (ICC) first to solely concentrate on
international commercial disputes.
→ Gave rise to the use of a standard form clause in commercial
contracts.
- If there is an arbitration;
- It is administered by the ICC.
- It is in accordance with procedural rules of the ICC.
Need for arbitration has been picked up by states → national laws govern
and assist the conduct of international arbitrations on their territory (cf.
1985 Model Law).
- Reassures investors.
- Attracts profitable businesses.
The outline of an International Arbitration:
I. Agreement.
, The foundation of international arbitration is consent reflected
by a valid agreement.
o Often expressed in an arbitration clause in a contract.
Any dispute that arises out of / in connection with the
contract will be referred to arbitration.
o Drawn up before any dispute has arisen.
Sometimes in relation to an existing dispute =
submission agreement.
More detailed.
In investment treaties.
Investors are not parties to such treaties.
Standing offer by the state concerned to resolve
any investment dispute by arbitration.
II. Place.
Parties to the agreement may select the (a) seat of arbitration or
(b) leave the choice until an arbitration is commenced.
o Will establish jurisdiction of local courts regarding review of
the award.
III. Commencement.
In order to start, a formal notice must be given.
o Communicate to the other party (art. 3 UNCITRAL).
Reference to arbitration clause.
Description of the claim.
Indication of amount involved in the dispute.
Statement of the relief / remedy sought.
o Notice to institution by request for arbitration (art. 4.1 ICC
Rules).
IV. Appointment of the tribunal.
All arbitrators chosen must be (1) independent and (2)
impartial.
o Sole arbitrator.
Selection is left to the parties.
Fall back / default provision in case they are
unable to agree (art. 12.3 ICC Rules).
Not able to agree → appointing authority makes the
designation.
o Three arbitrators.
Each party is given the right to nominate one arbitrator.
Often in favour of the party that nominated the
arbitrator.
Agree upon the nomination of a third arbitrator.
Can do it themselves / can delegate this to the co-
arbitrators.
, Default provisions.
V. Proceedings.
International arbitration lack compulsory rules of procedure →
procedure can be tailored by the parties to meet the law and
facts to the dispute.
o Governed by lex arbitri (law of the place of arbitration).
o Governed by chosen arbitration rules (i.e., ICC Rules;
UNCITRAL).
VI.Award.
An award is rendered if in the course of proceedings, a
settlement has not been reached between the parties (art. 36.1
UNCITRAL).
o Binding upon the parties.
o Judicial procedure.
Any failure by the tribunal to act judicially may be
sanctioned by (a) annulment or (b) non-enforcement.
VII. Enforcement.
Once the award has been made → binding decision.
o Might not be carried out voluntarily → may be enforced by
legal proceedings.
Locally / internationally.
o Agreement to arbitrate entail agreement to comply voluntarily
with resulting arbitral awards (art. 35.6 ICC Rules).
International arbitration → obtain a fair resolution of a dispute by an
independent and impartial tribunal with undue delay or expense.
- International.
o Character of the dispute.
Disputes with a foreign element.
o Nationality of the parties.
o New York Convention (art. 1(3) Model Law).
Parties have their places of business in different states.
A place of the arbitration / obligations is situated
outside the states where parties have their places of
business.
Parties have expressly agreed on relating to more than
one country.
- Commercial.
Distinction between commercial matters and any other matters
capable of settlement by an arbitrator.
o Commercial matters would necessarily be capable of being
settled by arbitration under the law of the state.
, Matters arising from all relationships of a commercial
nature.
o Noncommercial matters could not be resolved in that manner.
- Applicable legal rules.
Most arbitrations are governed procedurally by the laws of the
country of the seat where the arbitration is deemed to take place
and substantively by applicable national law selected by the partis
in their agreement.
o Limited amount of arbitration that is governed by
international law.
Inter-state disputes.
Investment arbitrations.
- Autonomy.
Private system of justice depending on the consent of parties.
o International awards.
The place or seat of the arbitration and the national
laws of that place where of no relevance.
o Autonomous and self-contained.
Only contact with national systems of law occurs when
seeking recognition / enforcement of the award
(Putrabali).
Even if an award is set aside in a certain country,
it does not have to be set aside in another one.
- National law and international conventions.
o National courts:
Set aside proceedings.
Enforcement proceedings.
o Often bound by international conventions to give assistance to
the arbitral process.
Do exercise a measure of control over the arbitral
process.
Ensure that minimum standards of justice are
met.
Subject matter is ‘arbitrable’ in their own laws.
The award does not offend public policy.
o Creating a universal system of law governing arbitration
through international conventions.
The Geneva Protocol of 1923.
The Geneva Convention of 1927.
The New York Convention of 1958.
Recognition and enforcement of foreign arbitral
awards.
ICSID.
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