The “arbitration clause” or the “arbitration agreement” is the provision in a contract that allows the parties to have their dispute resolved by an arbitral tribunal instead of ordinary State courts. An arbitration clause is binding and the parties cannot renounce unilaterally to the jurisdiction of the arbitral tribunal. In order to draft an effective […]
Time Limits to Initiate an Investment Arbitration
The initiation of arbitration proceedings on the basis of investment protection treaties may be subject to time limitations (ratione temporis limitations). The most common types of time limits are the provisions establishing cooling-off periods that may require claimants to wait and attempt to solve the dispute amicably before they can bring a claim. Less common […]
The Case of an Arbitrator Late Nomination under the 2012 ICC Rules
The case of an arbitrator late nomination is an unusual one under the ICC Rules. Under Article 12(4) of the 2012 ICC Rules, in the event that the parties have agreed upon a three-member tribunal, the claimant proceeds with the nomination of its co-arbitrator in the Request, and the respondent nominates its co-arbitrator in the […]
International Arbitrator Immunity under UAE Law
International arbitrator immunity is typically provided for in domestic legal regimes. As noted by commentators, “almost all contemporary national arbitration regimes provide international arbitrators with expansive statutory or common law immunities from civil claims based on the performance of their adjudicative functions”[1] for the reason that “[Arbitrators] must of necessity be uninfluenced by any fear of consequences […]
Philip Morris Arbitration Award Made Public
The Philip Morris arbitration award rendered by arbitrators Professor Don McRae, Professor Gabrielle Kaufmann-Kohler and Dr. Karl-Heinz Böckstiegel as presiding arbitrator, has finally been made public. The controversial arbitration was brought by Philip Morris in response to Australia’s plain packaging legislation for cigarettes. On 18 December 2015, the arbitration tribunal decided that it had no […]