Court Decisions

The court decisions available on this website interpret and apply the New York Convention. These court decisions are in most cases published in the Yearbook Commercial Arbitration since its Volume I (1976). 

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The court decisions available on this website interpret and apply the New York Convention.

  1. Most decisions are reported in the Yearbook Commercial Arbitration, published by ICCA since 1976, and are numbered as in the Yearbook (e.g., US no. 954).

  2. Other decisions are indicated by country, date, and a short name (e.g., UK 18 June 2020 Alexander Brothers).

Court decisions can be searched by country and by topic.

Court Decisions

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  • Excerpt Topics
    KENYA 2019-3
    201

    The court discusses whether the dispute falls within the wording of the arbitration agreement; and whether claims in tort fall within the scope of the agreement.

     Scope of arbitration agreement
    217

    The court discusses the meaning and effect of the referral of the resolution of disputes to arbitration, including: who can ask for referral and when, whether a party has waived its right to request arbitration, the defense that there was no contract at all; whether there was a condition precedent to the commencement of arbitration (e.g. mediation), stay of proceedings v. compelling arbitration, and national procedural specificities such as remand and removal (US), effect of class action. etc.

     Referral to arbitration in general
    219

    The court discusses how to determine that there is a dispute as a condition for referral to arbitration.

     There must be a dispute
    220

    The court discusses how to interpret the Convention’s requirement that the agreement is not null and void etc., as well as specific cases of invalidity: e.g., lack of consent (misrepresentation, duress, or fraud), vague wording of the arbitral clause; other terms of the contract contradict the intention to arbitrate, etc.

     "Null and void", etc.
    223

    The court discusses whether a certain dispute could be settled by arbitration, and the law applicable to that determination.

     Arbitrability (see also Art. V(2) sub ground a. "arbitrability", ¶519)
    226

    Multi-party disputes: The court discusses under which conditions non-signatories are covered by an arbitration agreement entered into by another party.

     Third parties (see also Art. I sub F "problems concerning the identity of the respondent", ¶106)
    KENYA 7
    201

    The court discusses whether the dispute falls within the wording of the arbitration agreement; and whether claims in tort fall within the scope of the agreement.

     Scope of arbitration agreement
    217

    The court discusses the meaning and effect of the referral of the resolution of disputes to arbitration, including: who can ask for referral and when, whether a party has waived its right to request arbitration, the defense that there was no contract at all; whether there was a condition precedent to the commencement of arbitration (e.g. mediation), stay of proceedings v. compelling arbitration, and national procedural specificities such as remand and removal (US), effect of class action. etc.

     Referral to arbitration in general
    219

    The court discusses how to determine that there is a dispute as a condition for referral to arbitration.

     There must be a dispute
    220

    The court discusses how to interpret the Convention’s requirement that the agreement is not null and void etc., as well as specific cases of invalidity: e.g., lack of consent (misrepresentation, duress, or fraud), vague wording of the arbitral clause; other terms of the contract contradict the intention to arbitrate, etc.

     "Null and void", etc.
    223

    The court discusses whether a certain dispute could be settled by arbitration, and the law applicable to that determination.

     Arbitrability (see also Art. V(2) sub ground a. "arbitrability", ¶519)
    226

    Multi-party disputes: The court discusses under which conditions non-signatories are covered by an arbitration agreement entered into by another party.

     Third parties (see also Art. I sub F "problems concerning the identity of the respondent", ¶106)
  • Excerpt Topics
    SINGAPORE 9
    219

    The court discusses how to determine that there is a dispute as a condition for referral to arbitration.

     There must be a dispute
    SINGAPORE 7
    217

    The court discusses the meaning and effect of the referral of the resolution of disputes to arbitration, including: who can ask for referral and when, whether a party has waived its right to request arbitration, the defense that there was no contract at all; whether there was a condition precedent to the commencement of arbitration (e.g. mediation), stay of proceedings v. compelling arbitration, and national procedural specificities such as remand and removal (US), effect of class action. etc.

     Referral to arbitration in general
    219

    The court discusses how to determine that there is a dispute as a condition for referral to arbitration.

     There must be a dispute
    220

    The court discusses how to interpret the Convention’s requirement that the agreement is not null and void etc., as well as specific cases of invalidity: e.g., lack of consent (misrepresentation, duress, or fraud), vague wording of the arbitral clause; other terms of the contract contradict the intention to arbitrate, etc.

     "Null and void", etc.
  • Excerpt Topics
    NEW ZEALAND 4
    217

    The court discusses the meaning and effect of the referral of the resolution of disputes to arbitration, including: who can ask for referral and when, whether a party has waived its right to request arbitration, the defense that there was no contract at all; whether there was a condition precedent to the commencement of arbitration (e.g. mediation), stay of proceedings v. compelling arbitration, and national procedural specificities such as remand and removal (US), effect of class action. etc.

     Referral to arbitration in general
    219

    The court discusses how to determine that there is a dispute as a condition for referral to arbitration.

     There must be a dispute
    220

    The court discusses how to interpret the Convention’s requirement that the agreement is not null and void etc., as well as specific cases of invalidity: e.g., lack of consent (misrepresentation, duress, or fraud), vague wording of the arbitral clause; other terms of the contract contradict the intention to arbitrate, etc.

     "Null and void", etc.
  • Excerpt Topics
    PAKISTAN 1
    217

    The court discusses the meaning and effect of the referral of the resolution of disputes to arbitration, including: who can ask for referral and when, whether a party has waived its right to request arbitration, the defense that there was no contract at all; whether there was a condition precedent to the commencement of arbitration (e.g. mediation), stay of proceedings v. compelling arbitration, and national procedural specificities such as remand and removal (US), effect of class action. etc.

     Referral to arbitration in general
    218

    The court discusses whether referral of the resolution of disputes to arbitration is mandatory under the Convention and whether mandatory referral is an internationally uniform rule which supersedes municipal law.

     Referral is mandatory
    219

    The court discusses how to determine that there is a dispute as a condition for referral to arbitration.

     There must be a dispute
    220

    The court discusses how to interpret the Convention’s requirement that the agreement is not null and void etc., as well as specific cases of invalidity: e.g., lack of consent (misrepresentation, duress, or fraud), vague wording of the arbitral clause; other terms of the contract contradict the intention to arbitrate, etc.

     "Null and void", etc.
  • Excerpt Topics
    CAYMAN ISLANDS 3
    219

    The court discusses how to determine that there is a dispute as a condition for referral to arbitration.

     There must be a dispute
  • Excerpt Topics
    UNITED STATES 278
    201

    The court discusses whether the dispute falls within the wording of the arbitration agreement; and whether claims in tort fall within the scope of the agreement.

     Scope of arbitration agreement
    214-216 Field of application
    219

    The court discusses how to determine that there is a dispute as a condition for referral to arbitration.

     There must be a dispute
    221

    The court discusses which law – lex fori, lex contractus, law of the State where the award will be made – applies specifically to determining whether an agreement to arbitrate is “null and void etc.“, and, by extension, which law applies to determining the validity of arbitration agreements.

     Law applicable to "Null and void", etc. (for formal validity and applicable law, see Art. II, ¶204)
    223

    The court discusses whether a certain dispute could be settled by arbitration, and the law applicable to that determination.

     Arbitrability (see also Art. V(2) sub ground a. "arbitrability", ¶519)
    226

    Multi-party disputes: The court discusses under which conditions non-signatories are covered by an arbitration agreement entered into by another party.

     Third parties (see also Art. I sub F "problems concerning the identity of the respondent", ¶106)
  • Excerpt Topics
    SINGAPORE 3

    High Court of Singapore, 27 January and 4 March 1998

    (Coop International Pte Ltd v. Ebel SA)

    214-216 Field of application
    217

    The court discusses the meaning and effect of the referral of the resolution of disputes to arbitration, including: who can ask for referral and when, whether a party has waived its right to request arbitration, the defense that there was no contract at all; whether there was a condition precedent to the commencement of arbitration (e.g. mediation), stay of proceedings v. compelling arbitration, and national procedural specificities such as remand and removal (US), effect of class action. etc.

     Referral to arbitration in general
    219

    The court discusses how to determine that there is a dispute as a condition for referral to arbitration.

     There must be a dispute
  • Excerpt Topics
    UK 50
    219

    The court discusses how to determine that there is a dispute as a condition for referral to arbitration.

     There must be a dispute
  • Excerpt Topics
    SWITZERLAND 32
    214-216 Field of application
    219

    The court discusses how to determine that there is a dispute as a condition for referral to arbitration.

     There must be a dispute
    227

    Multi-party disputes: The court discusses whether related court proceedings may absorb (by vis atractiva) arbitration proceedings.

    Concurrent court proceedings ("indivisibility")
  • Excerpt Topics
    UNITED STATES 262
    219

    The court discusses how to determine that there is a dispute as a condition for referral to arbitration.

     There must be a dispute
    226

    Multi-party disputes: The court discusses under which conditions non-signatories are covered by an arbitration agreement entered into by another party.

     Third parties (see also Art. I sub F "problems concerning the identity of the respondent", ¶106)
    227

    Multi-party disputes: The court discusses whether related court proceedings may absorb (by vis atractiva) arbitration proceedings.

    Concurrent court proceedings ("indivisibility")
  • Excerpt Topics
    AUSTRALIA 14
    219

    The court discusses how to determine that there is a dispute as a condition for referral to arbitration.

     There must be a dispute
    227

    Multi-party disputes: The court discusses whether related court proceedings may absorb (by vis atractiva) arbitration proceedings.

    Concurrent court proceedings ("indivisibility")
    AUSTRALIA 13
    113

    The court discusses aspects relating to the implementation of the Convention in a Contracting State: the self-executing nature of the Convention v. the requirement of implementing legislation; the lack of implementing legislation; legislation that diverges from the text of the Convention or is defective under national law. Also, the domestic requirement that a State be included in an official list (“gazetted”) to ascertain reciprocity.

     Implementing legislation
    201

    The court discusses whether the dispute falls within the wording of the arbitration agreement; and whether claims in tort fall within the scope of the agreement.

     Scope of arbitration agreement
    214-216 Field of application
    217

    The court discusses the meaning and effect of the referral of the resolution of disputes to arbitration, including: who can ask for referral and when, whether a party has waived its right to request arbitration, the defense that there was no contract at all; whether there was a condition precedent to the commencement of arbitration (e.g. mediation), stay of proceedings v. compelling arbitration, and national procedural specificities such as remand and removal (US), effect of class action. etc.

     Referral to arbitration in general
    219

    The court discusses how to determine that there is a dispute as a condition for referral to arbitration.

     There must be a dispute
    220

    The court discusses how to interpret the Convention’s requirement that the agreement is not null and void etc., as well as specific cases of invalidity: e.g., lack of consent (misrepresentation, duress, or fraud), vague wording of the arbitral clause; other terms of the contract contradict the intention to arbitrate, etc.

     "Null and void", etc.
    223

    The court discusses whether a certain dispute could be settled by arbitration, and the law applicable to that determination.

     Arbitrability (see also Art. V(2) sub ground a. "arbitrability", ¶519)
    228

    Related court proceedings: The court discusses whether provisional measures, such as the pre-award attachment of assets, are compatible with the Convention.

    Pre-award attachment and other provisional measures
  • Excerpt Topics
    UK 47
    217

    The court discusses the meaning and effect of the referral of the resolution of disputes to arbitration, including: who can ask for referral and when, whether a party has waived its right to request arbitration, the defense that there was no contract at all; whether there was a condition precedent to the commencement of arbitration (e.g. mediation), stay of proceedings v. compelling arbitration, and national procedural specificities such as remand and removal (US), effect of class action. etc.

     Referral to arbitration in general
    219

    The court discusses how to determine that there is a dispute as a condition for referral to arbitration.

     There must be a dispute
    704(C) Art. VII(1): European Union (Treaties and Legislation)
  • Excerpt Topics
    NEW ZEALAND 1
    218

    The court discusses whether referral of the resolution of disputes to arbitration is mandatory under the Convention and whether mandatory referral is an internationally uniform rule which supersedes municipal law.

     Referral is mandatory
    219

    The court discusses how to determine that there is a dispute as a condition for referral to arbitration.

     There must be a dispute
  • Excerpt Topics
    BERMUDA 4
    209 Incorporation by reference and standard conditions
    217

    The court discusses the meaning and effect of the referral of the resolution of disputes to arbitration, including: who can ask for referral and when, whether a party has waived its right to request arbitration, the defense that there was no contract at all; whether there was a condition precedent to the commencement of arbitration (e.g. mediation), stay of proceedings v. compelling arbitration, and national procedural specificities such as remand and removal (US), effect of class action. etc.

     Referral to arbitration in general
    219

    The court discusses how to determine that there is a dispute as a condition for referral to arbitration.

     There must be a dispute
  • Excerpt Topics
    INDIA 26
    102

    The court discusses which awards are considered non-domestic even if rendered in the State of enforcement (international element, lex mercatoria).

     Arbitral award not considered as domestic (paragraph 1)
    201

    The court discusses whether the dispute falls within the wording of the arbitration agreement; and whether claims in tort fall within the scope of the agreement.

     Scope of arbitration agreement
    214-216 Field of application
    217

    The court discusses the meaning and effect of the referral of the resolution of disputes to arbitration, including: who can ask for referral and when, whether a party has waived its right to request arbitration, the defense that there was no contract at all; whether there was a condition precedent to the commencement of arbitration (e.g. mediation), stay of proceedings v. compelling arbitration, and national procedural specificities such as remand and removal (US), effect of class action. etc.

     Referral to arbitration in general
    218

    The court discusses whether referral of the resolution of disputes to arbitration is mandatory under the Convention and whether mandatory referral is an internationally uniform rule which supersedes municipal law.

     Referral is mandatory
    219

    The court discusses how to determine that there is a dispute as a condition for referral to arbitration.

     There must be a dispute
    702

    More-favorable right provision: The court discusses examples of domestic laws of countries where enforcement of foreign awards is more favorable.

     Domestic law on enforcement of foreign award
  • Excerpt Topics
    UK 37
    217

    The court discusses the meaning and effect of the referral of the resolution of disputes to arbitration, including: who can ask for referral and when, whether a party has waived its right to request arbitration, the defense that there was no contract at all; whether there was a condition precedent to the commencement of arbitration (e.g. mediation), stay of proceedings v. compelling arbitration, and national procedural specificities such as remand and removal (US), effect of class action. etc.

     Referral to arbitration in general
    218

    The court discusses whether referral of the resolution of disputes to arbitration is mandatory under the Convention and whether mandatory referral is an internationally uniform rule which supersedes municipal law.

     Referral is mandatory
    219

    The court discusses how to determine that there is a dispute as a condition for referral to arbitration.

     There must be a dispute
    228

    Related court proceedings: The court discusses whether provisional measures, such as the pre-award attachment of assets, are compatible with the Convention.

    Pre-award attachment and other provisional measures
  • Excerpt Topics
    SINGAPORE 2
    217

    The court discusses the meaning and effect of the referral of the resolution of disputes to arbitration, including: who can ask for referral and when, whether a party has waived its right to request arbitration, the defense that there was no contract at all; whether there was a condition precedent to the commencement of arbitration (e.g. mediation), stay of proceedings v. compelling arbitration, and national procedural specificities such as remand and removal (US), effect of class action. etc.

     Referral to arbitration in general
    218

    The court discusses whether referral of the resolution of disputes to arbitration is mandatory under the Convention and whether mandatory referral is an internationally uniform rule which supersedes municipal law.

     Referral is mandatory
    219

    The court discusses how to determine that there is a dispute as a condition for referral to arbitration.

     There must be a dispute
  • Excerpt Topics
    UK 33
    214-216 Field of application
    218

    The court discusses whether referral of the resolution of disputes to arbitration is mandatory under the Convention and whether mandatory referral is an internationally uniform rule which supersedes municipal law.

     Referral is mandatory
    219

    The court discusses how to determine that there is a dispute as a condition for referral to arbitration.

     There must be a dispute
    228

    Related court proceedings: The court discusses whether provisional measures, such as the pre-award attachment of assets, are compatible with the Convention.

    Pre-award attachment and other provisional measures
    506

    Invalidity of the arbitration agreement: The court discusses the law applicable to the validity of the arbitration agreement at the enforcement stage.

     Law applicable to the arbitration agreement
  • Excerpt Topics
    UK 35
    201

    The court discusses whether the dispute falls within the wording of the arbitration agreement; and whether claims in tort fall within the scope of the agreement.

     Scope of arbitration agreement
    219

    The court discusses how to determine that there is a dispute as a condition for referral to arbitration.

     There must be a dispute
    220

    The court discusses how to interpret the Convention’s requirement that the agreement is not null and void etc., as well as specific cases of invalidity: e.g., lack of consent (misrepresentation, duress, or fraud), vague wording of the arbitral clause; other terms of the contract contradict the intention to arbitrate, etc.

     "Null and void", etc.
    222

    The court discusses the principle of competence-competence, including whether the parties “intended to have arbitrability decided by an arbitrator”, and the separability of the arbitration agreement from the main contract.

     Arbitrator's competence and separability of the arbitration clause
  • Excerpt Topics
    UK 34
    218

    The court discusses whether referral of the resolution of disputes to arbitration is mandatory under the Convention and whether mandatory referral is an internationally uniform rule which supersedes municipal law.

     Referral is mandatory
    219

    The court discusses how to determine that there is a dispute as a condition for referral to arbitration.

     There must be a dispute
  • Excerpt Topics
    UNITED STATES 75
    217

    The court discusses the meaning and effect of the referral of the resolution of disputes to arbitration, including: who can ask for referral and when, whether a party has waived its right to request arbitration, the defense that there was no contract at all; whether there was a condition precedent to the commencement of arbitration (e.g. mediation), stay of proceedings v. compelling arbitration, and national procedural specificities such as remand and removal (US), effect of class action. etc.

     Referral to arbitration in general
    219

    The court discusses how to determine that there is a dispute as a condition for referral to arbitration.

     There must be a dispute
    224

    The court discusses whether a declaratory judgment on the validity of the arbitration agreement is available under the Convention.

    Declaratory judgment on validity arbitration agreement
    226

    Multi-party disputes: The court discusses under which conditions non-signatories are covered by an arbitration agreement entered into by another party.

     Third parties (see also Art. I sub F "problems concerning the identity of the respondent", ¶106)
  • Excerpt Topics
    UK 25
    219

    The court discusses how to determine that there is a dispute as a condition for referral to arbitration.

     There must be a dispute
    222

    The court discusses the principle of competence-competence, including whether the parties “intended to have arbitrability decided by an arbitrator”, and the separability of the arbitration agreement from the main contract.

     Arbitrator's competence and separability of the arbitration clause
  • Excerpt Topics
    INDIA 13
    214-216 Field of application
    217

    The court discusses the meaning and effect of the referral of the resolution of disputes to arbitration, including: who can ask for referral and when, whether a party has waived its right to request arbitration, the defense that there was no contract at all; whether there was a condition precedent to the commencement of arbitration (e.g. mediation), stay of proceedings v. compelling arbitration, and national procedural specificities such as remand and removal (US), effect of class action. etc.

     Referral to arbitration in general
    219

    The court discusses how to determine that there is a dispute as a condition for referral to arbitration.

     There must be a dispute
    220

    The court discusses how to interpret the Convention’s requirement that the agreement is not null and void etc., as well as specific cases of invalidity: e.g., lack of consent (misrepresentation, duress, or fraud), vague wording of the arbitral clause; other terms of the contract contradict the intention to arbitrate, etc.

     "Null and void", etc.
  • Excerpt Topics
    UK 23
    219

    The court discusses how to determine that there is a dispute as a condition for referral to arbitration.

     There must be a dispute
  • Excerpt Topics
    UNITED STATES 58 B

    United States Court of Appeals, Second Circuit, 11 May 1984

    (Shaheen Natural Resources Company, Inc. v. Société Nationale pour la Recherche, la Production, le Transport, la Transformation et la Commercialisation des Hydrocarbures (Sonatrach))

    103

    The court discusses the impact of the nationality of the parties on the application of the Convention. 

     Nationality of the parties no criterion
    105

    The court discusses issues relating to the quality of the parties, as physical or legal persons against whom enforcement of an arbitral award is sought, including the incapacity of a State to enter into an arbitration agreement, and questions relating to sovereign immunity. For the related defenses to enforcement, see Art. V(1)(a).

     "Persons, whether physical or legal" (paragraph 1) (including sovereign immunity)
    106

    The court discusses issues relating to the identity of the party against whom enforcement of the arbitral award is sought, including: piercing of the corporate veil, succession, assignment, State or State entity, group of companies, agent or principal, etc. For the related defenses to enforcement, see Art. V(1)(a).

     Problems concerning the identity of a party
    219

    The court discusses how to determine that there is a dispute as a condition for referral to arbitration.

     There must be a dispute
    303

    The court discusses the conditions under which a party may be estopped from raising a ground for refusal of enforcement under the Convention or has waived the right to raise it.

    Estoppel/waiver
    401

    The court discusses the general conditions the Convention imposes on a petitioner for seeking recognition and enforcement of an arbitral award – namely, the submission of the original arbitration agreement or arbitral award or a certified copy thereof – and examines in general whether these conditions were complied in the case at issue.

     Conditions to be fulfilled by petitioner in general
    503

    The court discusses the burden of proof of the grounds for refusing enforcement under the Convention.

     Burden of proof on respondent
    505 Incapacity of party
    513 Ground d: Irregularity in the composition of the arbitral tribunal or arbitral procedure
    518

    Public policy: The court discusses the meaning of (international as compared to domestic) public policy, generally defined as the basic notions of morality and justice of the enforcement State.

    Paragraph 2 - Distinction domestic-international public policy
    519

    Public policy: The court discusses cases in which the subject matter of the award was not arbitrable in the enforcement State on public policy grounds.

    Ground a: Arbitrability
    601

    The court discusses the conditions for granting adjournment of a proceeding relating to the recognition and enforcement of an arbitral award, and the court’s discretionary power to do so, as well the determination of “suitable security” and the power to request it.

     Adjournment of decision on enforcement
    914

    The court discusses this general reciprocity clause, which was inserted in the Convention to remedy the absence in the commercial reservation (Art. I(3)) of a federal-state clause allowing Contracting States not to apply the Convention to awards made in a constituent state or province of a Contracting State which was not bound to apply the Convention.

    General reciprocity clause
  • Excerpt Topics
    UNITED STATES 58 A

     United States District Court, Southern District of New York, 15 November 1983

    (Shaheen Natural Resources Company, Inc. v. Société Nationale pour la Recherche, la Production, le Transport, la Transformation et la Commercialisation des Hydrocarbures (Sonatrach)

    103

    The court discusses the impact of the nationality of the parties on the application of the Convention. 

     Nationality of the parties no criterion
    105

    The court discusses issues relating to the quality of the parties, as physical or legal persons against whom enforcement of an arbitral award is sought, including the incapacity of a State to enter into an arbitration agreement, and questions relating to sovereign immunity. For the related defenses to enforcement, see Art. V(1)(a).

     "Persons, whether physical or legal" (paragraph 1) (including sovereign immunity)
    106

    The court discusses issues relating to the identity of the party against whom enforcement of the arbitral award is sought, including: piercing of the corporate veil, succession, assignment, State or State entity, group of companies, agent or principal, etc. For the related defenses to enforcement, see Art. V(1)(a).

     Problems concerning the identity of a party
    219

    The court discusses how to determine that there is a dispute as a condition for referral to arbitration.

     There must be a dispute
    303

    The court discusses the conditions under which a party may be estopped from raising a ground for refusal of enforcement under the Convention or has waived the right to raise it.

    Estoppel/waiver
    401

    The court discusses the general conditions the Convention imposes on a petitioner for seeking recognition and enforcement of an arbitral award – namely, the submission of the original arbitration agreement or arbitral award or a certified copy thereof – and examines in general whether these conditions were complied in the case at issue.

     Conditions to be fulfilled by petitioner in general
    503

    The court discusses the burden of proof of the grounds for refusing enforcement under the Convention.

     Burden of proof on respondent
    505 Incapacity of party
    513 Ground d: Irregularity in the composition of the arbitral tribunal or arbitral procedure
    518

    Public policy: The court discusses the meaning of (international as compared to domestic) public policy, generally defined as the basic notions of morality and justice of the enforcement State.

    Paragraph 2 - Distinction domestic-international public policy
    519

    Public policy: The court discusses cases in which the subject matter of the award was not arbitrable in the enforcement State on public policy grounds.

    Ground a: Arbitrability
    601

    The court discusses the conditions for granting adjournment of a proceeding relating to the recognition and enforcement of an arbitral award, and the court’s discretionary power to do so, as well the determination of “suitable security” and the power to request it.

     Adjournment of decision on enforcement
    914

    The court discusses this general reciprocity clause, which was inserted in the Convention to remedy the absence in the commercial reservation (Art. I(3)) of a federal-state clause allowing Contracting States not to apply the Convention to awards made in a constituent state or province of a Contracting State which was not bound to apply the Convention.

    General reciprocity clause
  • Excerpt Topics
    UK 15
    214-216 Field of application
    218

    The court discusses whether referral of the resolution of disputes to arbitration is mandatory under the Convention and whether mandatory referral is an internationally uniform rule which supersedes municipal law.

     Referral is mandatory
    219

    The court discusses how to determine that there is a dispute as a condition for referral to arbitration.

     There must be a dispute
  • Excerpt Topics
    UK 3
    214-216 Field of application
    217

    The court discusses the meaning and effect of the referral of the resolution of disputes to arbitration, including: who can ask for referral and when, whether a party has waived its right to request arbitration, the defense that there was no contract at all; whether there was a condition precedent to the commencement of arbitration (e.g. mediation), stay of proceedings v. compelling arbitration, and national procedural specificities such as remand and removal (US), effect of class action. etc.

     Referral to arbitration in general
    218

    The court discusses whether referral of the resolution of disputes to arbitration is mandatory under the Convention and whether mandatory referral is an internationally uniform rule which supersedes municipal law.

     Referral is mandatory
    219

    The court discusses how to determine that there is a dispute as a condition for referral to arbitration.

     There must be a dispute
    220

    The court discusses how to interpret the Convention’s requirement that the agreement is not null and void etc., as well as specific cases of invalidity: e.g., lack of consent (misrepresentation, duress, or fraud), vague wording of the arbitral clause; other terms of the contract contradict the intention to arbitrate, etc.

     "Null and void", etc.