Traditionally, confidentiality is one of the perceived advantages of international arbitration as opposed to State court proceedings.[1] The underlying rationale behind confidentiality in international arbitration comes from the need to ensure a “dispassionate dispute resolution process” between the parties.[2] In fact, parties choose international arbitration in order to benefit from a unified, neutral, efficient, and […]
Sovereign Immunity in Switzerland
The doctrine of sovereign immunity can be traced back to early international law theories. Traditionally, sovereign immunity was considered absolute, meaning that states could not be sued under any circumstances. However, as international relations and state involvement in commerce expanded, many countries, including Switzerland, adopted a restrictive approach. This distinction allows legal actions against states […]
Arbitration and the Revised Swiss Private International Law Act
The Swiss Private International Law Act (“PILA”), codified in the Federal Act on Private International Law of 18 December 1987, is likely the most complete codification of private international law in the world. Initially introduced in Swiss legislation to strengthen Switzerland’s position in the field of international law, the PILA was recently revamped to accommodate […]
Arbitration in Switzerland
Switzerland is among the most preferred seats for arbitration, as revealed by an international Survey from 2018.[1] Its attractivity stems from factors such as its political neutrality, the well-established legal framework, the qualified arbitration practitioners, and its efficient institutions. Some key points relevant to the choice of Switzerland as a seat of arbitration will be […]
An Introduction to the ASA Arbitration Toolbox
In June 2021, the Swiss Arbitration Association (“ASA”) published the ASA Arbitration Toolbox, a free, interactive platform that guides users through the various steps of an international commercial arbitration via the help of questionnaires, diagrams, practical tips, as well as downloadable sample documents. The ASA Arbitration Toolbox is available online here. In order to access […]