Arbitrability

Introduction

For international commercial arbitration to take place there are two important conditions – a dispute must be arbitrable and there must be valid arbitration agreement. Arbitrability means the capability of a dispute of being settled by arbitration. There is no universal definition of arbitrability. It is up to the states to define which disputes are arbitrable in their territory. The definitions of arbitrability can be found in national arbitration laws or in case law (typical for common law countries). States use various criteria to define arbitrability. The arbitrability can be concerned by both arbitrators and national courts. For arbitrators, arbitrability is condition of their jurisdiction. If a dispute is not arbitrable, arbitrators do not have jurisdiction. Most often, arbitrators use lex arbitri in order to decide whether the dispute is arbitrable or not.

The aim of this chapter is to deal with the issue of arbitrability in international commercial arbitration. After going through this chapter a student should be able: to define arbitrability and to explain its importance for international commercial arbitration; to explain which criteria are commonly used by states to define arbitrability; to provide examples of situations which are generally regarded as non-arbitrable.

Presentation

Arbitrability
PDF Presentation

Revision test

Arbitrability
Open test in IS MU

Further recommended sources – books

  • BLACKABY, N., PARTASIDES, C., REDFERN, A., HUNTER, M. Redfern and Hunter on International Arbitration. 6th ed. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 2015, Chapter 2.
  • BORN, G. B. International Commercial Arbitration. 2nd ed. Kluwer Law International, 2014, Chapter 6.
  • GAILLARD, E., SAVAGE, J. Fouchard Gaillard Goldman on International Commercial Arbitration. Kluwer Law international, 1999, Part 2, Chapter II.
  • LEW, J.D.M., MISTELIS, L. A., KRÖLL, S.M. Comparative International Commercial Arbitration. The Hague: Kluwer Law International, 2003, Chapter 9.
  • MISTELIS, L. A., BREKOULAKIS, S. L. Arbitrability: International and Comparative Perspectives. Kluwer Law International, 2009.
  • MOSES, M.L. The Principles and Practice of International Commercial Arbitration. 3rd ed. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 2017. Chapter 2.

Further recommended sources – Articles, papers, electronic sources

  • GOODE, R. The Role of the Lex Loci Arbitri in International Commercial Arbitration. Arbitration International. 2001, Vol. 17, No. 1, pp. 19–40.
  • KluwerArbitration [online]. Available from: http://www.kluwerarbitration.com/
  • LEW, J. D. M. Achieving the Dream: Autonomous Arbitration. Arbitration International, 2006, Vol. 22, No. 2, pp. 179–204.
  • PARK, W. W. The Lex Loci Arbitri and International Commercial Arbitration. International nad Comparative Law Quaterly, 1983, Vol. 32, pp. 21–52.