The Arbitration Act 1996 governs arbitration in England and Wales and Northern Ireland. London is recognised as a leading seat of arbitration: a significant number of commercial agreements internationally are governed by the law of England and Wales.
Should you sign an arbitration agreement? If you agree to engage in a possible future arbitration voluntarily, mutually determine the ground rules of arbitration and agree to choose an impartial arbitrator together, you are likely to find arbitration to be not only inexpensive and fast but also fair.
Some IP disputes involve rights or obligations derived from contracts, such as assignments of ownership or licence agreements, and these disputes are generally accepted as arbitrable; however, other IP disputes involve rights that devolve from local or central governmental entities, such as infringement or validity.
Previous case law, the three situations in Section 81(1) are matters “where the common law rules are still in force.”10 This section reinforces the idea that arbitrability in England is a subject of common law and it does not require a codification of issues that are non-arbitrable.
Under English law, a non-party to a contract incorporating an arbitration agreement cannot compel a party to arbitrate disputes relating to the contract.
A Party wishing to refer a dispute to arbitration shall appoint its arbitrator and send notice of such appointment in writing to the other Party requiring the other Party to appoint its own arbitrator within fourteen (14) calendar days of that notice and stating that it will appoint its arbitrator as sole arbitrator ...
7. Arbitration agreement.—(1) In this Part, “arbitration agreement” means an agreement by the parties to submit to arbitration all or certain disputes which have arisen or which may arise between them in respect of a defined legal relationship, whether contractual or not.
Auto Accidents: Arbitration is often used in auto accident cases, particularly when the dispute involves the extent of injuries, the amount of damages, or insurance coverage issues. If both parties agree, arbitration can quickly resolve the matter without a prolonged and expensive jury trial.
If neither party appeals the decision, it will be binding, like an order by a judge. However, a party unhappy with the arbitrator's decision can request a new trial before a judge.
Either Party to a contract in which there is an Arbitration clause can either himself or through an authorised agent may invoke Arbitration so as to refer the dispute to arbitration, as per provisions of the arbitration clause.