Arbitration agreements serve as the backbone of alternative dispute resolution, providing parties with a structured and efficient means of resolving disputes. The key elements within these agreements, including clarity, consent, scope, rules, and procedures, are essential for the successful execution of arbitration.
The nature of the contract, the parties to the contract, the types of disputes that may occur under the contract, and the jurisdictions likely to be involved in any disputes should all be taken into account when designing an arbitration clause for any contract.
"A dispute having arisen between the parties concerning , the parties hereby agree that the dispute shall be referred to and finally resolved by arbitration under the LCIA Rules. The number of arbitrators shall be one/three. The seat, or legal place, of arbitration shall be City and/or Country.
Without a valid arbitration agreement, no arbitration can take place or award can be rendered. In other words, a valid arbitration agreement is the cornerstone of any arbitration proceedings. Townsend, J.M., Drafting Arbitration Clauses: Avoiding the 7 Deadly Sins, Dispute Resolution Journal, 2003, p. 1.
Arbitration agreements require that persons who signed them resolve any disputes by binding arbitration, rather than in court before a judge and/or jury. What is binding arbitration? Binding arbitration involves the submission of a dispute to a neutral party who hears the case and makes a decision.
Disputes relating to rights and liabilities which arise out of or give rise to criminal offences. Matters of guardianship. Matrimonial disputes such as divorce, judicial separation, restitution of conjugal rights and child custody. Winding up and insolvency.
The Scope of the Clause. This section of the clause is critical; it sets the boundaries for which disputes the tribunal is authorised to determine. Choice of Rules. The Number of Arbitrators. Appointing Authority. Choice of Venue. The language of the proceedings. Finality. Exclusion of the right of appeal.
To ensure enforceability, the arbitration agreement must comply with the formal requirements set out in Section 7 of the Act, which states that the agreement must be in writing. This can include signed documents, exchanges of letters or telegrams, or even statements of claim and defense.
Section 7 of the Arbitration Act 1996 confirms that the doctrine of separability applies to arbitration agreements. It makes clear that even if the main contract never came into existence, the arbitration agreement can still be binding.
Most employers in the U.S. now require employees to accept a mandatory arbitration clause—waiving their right to sue in court as a condition of work. Arbitration clauses are often buried in the fine print of one-sided employment contracts that businesses impose, and that workers have no power to contest.