Naviguer dans la montée en puissance de l'arbitrage international : Questions fréquemment posées
There has been a notable increase in the utilisation of international arbitrage, which is now widely recognised as the preferred règlement des litiges mechanism for cross-border and multijurisdictional transactions. But what exactly is international arbitration?
Ce guide FAQ vise à répondre aux questions les plus fréquentes concernant la nature exacte de l'arbitrage international et ses principales caractéristiques.
Qu'est-ce que l'arbitrage international ?
International arbitration offers an alternative to the traditional approach of resolving disputes through formal court proceedings in a national court. If, and only if, the parties agree to arbitrate their dispute, an independent neutral arbitrator and/or a panel of arbitrators va make an award/decision which is binding on the parties.
A final award is typically enforceable in most domestic courts around the world and, subject to the arbitration rules which apply, there is generally no right to appeal the award and very limited grounds on which any award can be set aside.
Mon contrat ne contient pas de clause d'arbitrage. Puis-je quand même recourir à l'arbitrage ?
Yes, you can. As the parties will need to agree to submit their dispute to arbitration, the most common way for the parties to do so is to incorporate an arbitration clause into the underlying agreements/contracts. However, parties can still refer their dispute to arbitration through a submission agreement if no pre-existing arbitration clause exists.
Quelles sont les principales caractéristiques de l'arbitrage international ?
Exécution des sentences : One of the most significant advantages of international arbitration is the enforceability of arbitral awards across different jurisdictions. La Convention pour la reconnaissance et l'exécution des sentences arbitrales étrangères de 1958, widely known as ‘The New York Convention,’ has been ratified by over 170 countries, making it often easier to enforce a non-domestic arbitral award than a foreign court judgment.
Neutralité et impartialité : Arbitrators are typically chosen by the parties or a designated institution, ensuring a neutral and impartial decision-making process. This neutrality is crucial for cross-border disputes, as it minimises the risk of home-country bias or concerns about unfamiliar domestic judicial systems.
Flexibilité et autonomie : Parties have the freedom to tailor the arbitration process to their specific needs, including selecting specialist arbitrators, specific procedural rules (e.g., ICC 2021 Rules, LCIA 2020 Rules, etc.), the ‘seat’ of arbitration, and the language of proceedings. This flexibility allows for a more efficient and customised resolution process.
Alors que les procédures judiciaires nationales traditionnelles peuvent souvent prendre des années, de nombreux règlements d'arbitrage international prévoient que, sous réserve d'adéquation, les parties peuvent opter pour une procédure ‘rapide’ ou ‘accélérée’ qui vise à rendre une sentence finale dans les 3 à 6 mois suivant le début de la procédure.
Confidentialité : Contrairement aux procédures judiciaires nationales, qui sont souvent publiques, l'arbitrage international est généralement mené en privé, ce qui permet aux parties de convenir de garder l'existence et le contenu de l'arbitrage confidentiels.
Comment RFB Legal peut-il m'aider ?
If you need advice or assistance regarding International Arbitration matters or wish to refer your dispute to International Arbitration, please contact Jonathan Chan (j.chan@rfblegal.co.uk) or our Arbitration Team (Arbitration@rfblegal.co.uk).
Jonathan Chan
Partenaire en contentieux
