Selecting the Seat: Crossing a Minefield in the Fog

• Author: Pierre A. Karrer
• Pages: 162-169

XI ANUÁRIO BRASILEIRO DE DIREITO INTERNACIONAL

Anuário Brasileiro de Direito Internacional, ISSN 1980-9484, vol.1, n.20, jan. de 2016, pp.162-169.

162

SELECTING THE SEAT: CROSSING A MINEFIELD IN THE FOG

SELECIONANDO A SEDE: ATRAVESSANDO UM CAMPO MINADO NA

NÉVOA

Pierre A. Karrer1

ABSTRACT

To select the seat of an international arbitration one should avoid surprises. One

should avoid popular misconceptions and consider dozens of points, some obvious,

but many easily overlooked – a complex exercise discussed in this practice-oriented

article.

Keywords: Seat of international arbitration; criteria to select a seat; arbitration

agreement; procedure law; Convention on the Recognition and Enforcement of

Foreign Arbitral Awards.

RESUMO

Para selecionar a sede de uma arbitragem internacional deve-se evitar surpresas.

Deve-se evitar equívocos populares e considerar dezenas de pontos, alguns óbvios,

mas muitos facilmente esquecidos - um exercício complexo discutido neste artigo

orientado para a prática.

Palavras-Chave: Sede de arbitragem internacional; critérios para selecionar uma sede;

convenção de arbitragem; direito processual; Convenção sobre o Reconhecimento e a

Execução de Sentenças Arbitrais Estrangeiras.

Many say, and they have a point, that the simplest arbitration clause is the best.

But one should not exaggerate. Yes, one could just write. “arbitration”, the magic

word. This would be a valid arbitration clause. But, in an international context, how

would the Arbitral Tribunal be set up? France might help. But normally you will

specify the seat.

“Ah, no need”, some will say: If the Parties just choose an arbitral institution,

that will take care of picking the seat. Yes, if you choose an arbitration institution, you

actually choose arbitration rules, and they often have a default seat. For instance, in

1 Dr. iur. (Zurich), LL.M. (Yale), FCI Arb; Hon. President, ASA Swiss Arbitration Association; former

Vice President, Stockholm Institute; former Vice President, LCIA; former Member, International Court

of Arbitration of the ICC; former Chairman, Arbitration Commission of Swiss National Committee of the

ICC; www.pierrekarrer.com