Arbitrability, Arbitration, Arbitration Proceedings, Domestic Courts, Non-signatory, Public Policy, Right to be heard

(Lanter)/ /1 Comment

This is the 1st part of the report highlighting the most significant arbitration related decisions of the Swiss Federal Supreme Court (the “Supreme Court”) issued in 2019.   Arbitrability In the decisions 4A_244/2019 and 4A_246/2019 of 12 December 2019, the Supreme Court dealt with the issue of arbitrability. In two arbitrations brought before a tribunal…

Arbitration, Arbitration Proceedings, Domestic Courts, Enforcement, Extra petita, Good Faith, Independence and Impartiality

(Lanter)/ /Leave a comment

This is the 2nd part of the report highlighting the most significant arbitration related decisions of the Swiss Federal Supreme Court (the “Supreme Court”) issued in 2019.   Ne Eat Arbiter Extra Petita In the decision 4A_294/2019 / 4A_296/2019 of 13 November 2019, the Supreme Court dealt with an extra petita appeal against an ICC-award….

2019 In Review, Corporate Social Responsibility, Human Rights, Investment agreements

(Georgetown Law)/ /1 Comment

Several developments in 2019 highlighted the increased presence of human rights considerations in international investment law. As described by our contributors, however, tensions persist. The 2019 Netherlands Model Agreement, released in March, represented a notably progressive approach to reflecting human rights considerations in foreign investment, as explained by our contributors. This development builds on related…

Arbitration, Arbitration Industry, Arbitration Institutions and Rules, FAI, Finland

(Merilampi Attorneys Ltd.)/ /Leave a comment

The Finland Chamber of Commerce has recently revised its Arbitration Rules and the Rules for Expedited Arbitration to address the growing demands of the competitive world of commercial arbitration, as reported by the Arbitration Institute of the Finland Chamber of Commerce ( “FAI” or the “Institute”) in its article from December 2019. The revised Rules,…

Arbitrator's decision-making, Artificial Intelligence, Global values, New York Convention, Public Policy

, (Universidad de Buenos Aires) and (Curtis, Mallet-Prevost, Colt & Mosle )/ /Leave a comment

Questioning About the (Inexorable?) Future Could artificial intelligence (AI) carry out decision-making? Is it just a matter of time? Will AI replace human arbitrators? Further, will emotional intelligence always trump AI, or will AI enhance the arbitral process? Despite the topicality of the subject, the arbitration rules remain silent about AI. However, there is also…

2019 In Review, Section 1782 Discovery, U.S. Supreme Court, United States, United States Courts, USA, USMCA

(Musick, Peeler & Garrett LLP) and (Law Offices of Kiran N Gore PLLC; The George Washington University Law School)/ /Leave a comment

2019 was an important year for international arbitration developments in the United States, both in the commercial and investment context.  Some of the more far-reaching developments included the deepening circuit court split on whether “manifest disregard” of the law is a grounds to refuse enforcement of an award, the first U.S. Court of Appeals decision…

Journal of International Arbitration

(WilmerHale & Queen Mary University of London)/ /Leave a comment

We are happy to inform you that the latest issue of the journal is now available and includes the following contributions:   Markus PETSCHE, Restrictive Interpretation of Investment Treaties: A Critical Analysis of Arbitral Case Law This article critically discusses the recourse to the principle of restrictive interpretation (in dubio mitius) by treaty-based investor-state arbitral…

Advocacy, Cross-examination, Hot tubbing, SCL-CIArb, Witness

(Baskaran) and (Shardul Amarchand Mangaldas & Co.)/ /Leave a comment

Introduction The Society of Construction Law India and the Chartered Institute of Arbitrators India Branch together held an International Conference on Construction Law and Arbitration in New Delhi, India in December, 2019. The conference was well attended by practitioners and participants from various jurisdictions.  Needless to say, the construction industry is one of the fastest…

Arbitration, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Consolidation, Reform

and (Alchemy Capital LLC)/ /Leave a comment

Consolidation of arbitral proceedings is commonly regarded as a procedural device designed to deal with the challenges associated with complex cases. It is a method that combines multiple proceedings and harmonizes the final outcome of the disputes that bear significant resemblance, thus eradicating the risk of having contradictory awards rendered on a closely related set…

Consent, Court of Arbitration for Sport, Independence and Impartiality, Sport arbitration

(Central European University)/ /Leave a comment

The recent public hearing at the Court of Arbitration for Sport (‘CAS’) involving the World Anti-Doping Agency (‘WADA’) on one side, and the Chinese swimmer Sun Yang and the Federation Internationale de Natation (‘FINA’) on the other, has been plagued with controversies. In the anticipation of the award (expected in early 2020), this seems to…

Enforcement, Enforcement of an arbitration clause, New York Convention, Pakistan, Pro arbitration

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Recently, the Center for International Investment & Commercial Arbitration inaugurated its Young Arbitration Group in Pakistan in a conference which attracted foreign panelists who efficaciously explained the theory and practice of international arbitration, highlighting the room for improvement in Pakistan. This has been summarized in a prior post on the Blog, which also explained that…

Arbitration, Domain Names, Hungary, Public Policy, Supreme Court

(Taylor Wessing Budapest)/ /2 Comments

For a number of years, most Hungarian domain name disputes have been decided by an Alternative Dispute Resolution Forum (hereinafter: ‘Forum’) operated by the Council of Hungarian Internet Providers (‘Internet Szolgáltatók Tanácsa’, abbreviated as ‘ISZT’). Although the procedure conforms to the Uniform Domain Name Dispute Resolution Policy established by the Internet Corporation for Assigned Names…

Arbitration Act, Arbitration clause, Brazil, Brazilian Arbitration Act, Consent, kompetenz-kompetenz

(Herbert Smith Frehills)/ /1 Comment
Herbert Smith Freehills

On September 10, 2019, in considering an interlocutory appeal to stay arbitration proceedings, the Espírito Santo Court of Appeals decided to grant an exception to the competence-competence principle on grounds that the arbitration agreement was prima facie “manifestly illegal”. (Interlocutory Appeal No. 0013950-80.2019.8.08.0012, injunctive relief issued on September 10, 2019).   Background In 2001, the…

Appointment of arbitrators, Injunction, Interim measures, Malaysia

, (GanPartnership)/ /Leave a comment

The dilatory tactics of some claimant parties in conducting arbitration proceedings can often be frustrating and can result in unnecessary costs and expenses. In the judgment of Jaks Island Circle Sdn Bhd (“Jaks Island”) v. Star Media Group Bhd (“Star Media”) and AmBank (M) Berhad (“AmBank”) [Originating Summons No.: WA-24C(ARB)-11-02/2018] issued in 2019, the Malaysian…

2019 In Review, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belt Road Initiative, China, Georgia, HK Arbitration Week, HKIAC, Hong Kong, Interim measures, Japan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Online Dispute Resolution, South Korea, Third party funding, Trade, Uzbekistan

and (Peter & Kim)/ /Leave a comment

Gong Xi Fa Cai! The Year of the Earth Pig has drawn to a close. In what was certainly an auspicious and lucky year for arbitration developments in East and Central Asia, we take a closer look at five key developments:   1. Initiatives in PR China to boost arbitration In southern coastal China, the…

Hungary, Set aside an arbitral award, UNCITRAL Model Law

(SMARTLEGAL Schmidt & Partners)/ /Leave a comment

Two and a half decades have passed since Hungary harmonised its arbitration law with UNCITRAL Model Law (‘Model Law’) in 1994. This marked a giant leap forward, especially as the adopted provisions were made applicable not only in international, but in purely domestic arbitrations as well. This post analyses the Hungarian case law on setting…

Awards, Due process, Enforceability, Jura Novit Arbiter, Jura Novit Curia

(Baysal & Demir Law Firm) and (Gün + Partners)/ /2 Comments

How is the content of laws determined, and by whom, in international commercial arbitration? This topic mainly concerns an old legal assumption: iura novit curia, the Latin legal maxim for “the court knows the law”. While somewhat reasonable and predictable on the face of it since anyone can reasonably expect the court to know the…

ADR, Arbitration Act, Arbitration institution, Law of the Sea, National Arbitration Laws, Philippine Arbitration Convention, Philippines, Recognition and enforcement of arbitral award, Singapore Mediation Convention, South China Sea, UNCITRAL Model Law

, / /Leave a comment

The year 2019 was a milestone year for alternative dispute resolution (“ADR“) in the Philippines. It saw the inaugural Philippine Arbitration Convention organized by the Philippine Institute of Arbitrators (“PIArb“) on 25 November 2019 (the “Arbitration Day“), the signing of the Convention on International Settlement Agreements Resulting from Mediation (the “Singapore Convention“), the implementation of…

Antitrust arbitration, Arbitrability, China, Competition Law, Economic, Jurisdiction of the arbitral tribunal, Non-arbitrability

(International University of Rabat)/ /Leave a comment

Private antitrust actions were long thought to be non-arbitrable due to the public law character of antitrust law, though the scope of non-arbitrability has been reduced to varying extents in different jurisdictions. For instance, US courts had long adhered to the so-called “American Safety doctrine”, which limited the arbitrability of domestic antirust disputes.1)American Safety Equipment v…

CAM, Emergency Arbitrator, Institutional Rules, Interim measures, Third party funding

(University of Naples "Federico II")/ /Leave a comment
Young ICCA

On 1 March 2019 the Milan Chamber of Arbitration issued its amended Arbitration Rules (the “2019 Rules’”) with the aim of improving “the efficiency and the rapidity of arbitral proceedings [while] ensuring the necessary guarantees.”  This objective follows the current international trend.  Indeed, in the last decade, several arbitral institutions have revised their rules in…

2019 In Review, CIAMA, CRCICA, Egypt, Morocco, National Courts, North Africa

(Egyptian State Lawsuits Authority, Ministry of Justice and University of Geneva) and (Dentons & Co, Dubai)/ /Leave a comment

Here at Kluwer Arbitration Blog, we are pleased to reflect on a number of significant and exciting developments in international arbitration, with impact on the North African region. In this post, we recap these developments and their implications; and, of course, also thank our esteemed authors who have enabled us to bring coverage of events…

Arbitration, Interim measures, Macau, Recognition and enforcement of arbitral award

, , (Morrison & Foerster LLP)/ /Leave a comment

The Macau Special Administrative Region of the People’s Republic of China (“Macau”) has seen a dramatic decrease of foreign direct investment in the last few years. According to data from the Macau Statistics and Census Service, foreign direct investment dropped 79.9% in 2017 compared to 2016. In order to attract more investment, Macau needs to…

Dual Nationals, International Investment Arbitration, International Law, Jurisdiction of the arbitral tribunal, Venezuela

(GST LLP)/ /Leave a comment

In a previous post, which discussed the Ballantines award, the author concluded that doors for dual nationals’ claims are being closed, including for non-ICSID cases where the relevant treaty does not have a provision dealing with the issue. The recent Heemsen v. Venezuela jurisdictional award confirms this approach. Unanimously, a PCA tribunal declined jurisdiction over…

Law governing the arbitration agreement, Shanghai, Singapore

(Wilmer Cutler Pickering Hale and Dorr LLP)/ /1 Comment
YSIAC

In BNA v BNB and another [2019] SGCA 84 (“BNA”), the Singapore Court of Appeal overturned the High Court’s ruling and provided authoritative guidance on the applicable principles in determining the proper law of an arbitration agreement. I discussed the High Court’s decision and the factual background in an earlier post. This post unpacks the…