The fork in the road provision, or Electa una via, non datur recursus ad alteram (English translation: “when one way has been chosen, no recourse is given to another”[1]), belongs to a category of jurisdiction-declining provisions[2] marking “the relationship between international arbitration and adjudication by domestic courts.”[3] However, it should be noted that certain tribunals have […]
ICC as Appointing Authority in UNCITRAL or Other Ad Hoc Arbitration Proceedings (2018 ICC Rules)
International arbitration is governed by a cornerstone principle, the principle of consent. This means that parties are free to include, by mutual consent, an arbitration agreement in their contract. By the same token, they can organize such arbitration proceedings by choosing either an ad hoc arbitration or an arbitration administered by an institution. Nonetheless, the […]
Final Version of the Netherlands Model BIT Released
Previously, we analysed the main features of the 2018 Draft Netherlands Model BIT and concluded that the instrument could mark a new era in investment arbitration in the Netherlands. The Draft was open to consultation until 18 June 2017. The finalized text was adopted and released on 19 October 2018. The final version of the […]
Legitimate Expectations in Investment Arbitration
In its judgment rendered on 1 October 2018 in the Bolivia v. Chile case, the International Court of Justice drew a distinction between public international law and investment arbitration with respect to the notion of legitimate expectations. The Court held that, contrary to bilateral investment treaties where the principle of legitimate expectations of foreign investors […]
Denial of Justice in International Investment Law
The principle of denial of justice embodies the maladministration of justice by local courts.[6] Prohibited acts of the local judiciary mainly revolve around access to justice, discrimination and the slow or non-existent execution of court decisions which are favorable to a foreign investor.[7] One of the oldest and most oft-cited definitions of denial of justice […]