Under English law, a non-party to a contract incorporating an arbitration agreement cannot compel a party to arbitrate disputes relating to the contract.
Always get straight to the merits without berating the other side or whining about how badly it has treated you. Another threat to your credibility is the “kitchen sink” arbitration demand or a response that includes numerous claims or defenses that have little chance of succeeding.
In other words, a party's right to refer a dispute to arbitration depends on the existence of an agreement (the “arbitration agreement”) between them and the other parties to the dispute that the dispute may be referred to arbitration.
Choosing to Arbitrate So, when faced with disputes, parties can in almost all instances, agree to submit their disputes to arbitration, even when an arbitration clause was not included in the underlying contract, if any. Existing litigation can be moved to arbitration by the agreement of the parties.
Probably the easiest first step is to begin by reaching out to arbitrators and other neutrals who you know and ask them for advice and honest feedback about how you would be received by other advocates. All an arbitrator has is their reputation and it's good to know what yours is.
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.
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.