Thesis (LLM)--Stellenbosch University, 2002 / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: Arbitration is widely regarded as an important alternative to litigation, particularly for international commercial disputes. However, concern currently exists that arbitration is becoming too slow and too expensive, partly through using procedures too similar to those in the courts. Effective arbitration requires suitable legislation, the support of the parties and their lawyers and appropriate initiatives from the arbitral tribunal. The UNCITRAL Model Law on International Commercial Arbitration of 1985 is the internationally accepted standard against which the quality of a nation's legislation for international commercial arbitration must be measured. A crucial aspect regarding suitable legislation is the role of the courts. This thesis is essentially concerned with steps which have been taken or need to be taken in Germany and South Africa to achieve effective arbitration. It commences with a brief overview of the sort of delaying tactics which are often encountered in international arbitration practice, including abuse of the court's powers of supervision and intervention. The reception in Germany and South Africa of the UNCITRAL Model Law is then discussed. In Germany it has been adopted for both domestic and international arbitration. The South African Law Commission has recommended its adoption in South Africa for international arbitration. The Law Commission has however recommended a new separate statute for domestic arbitration because of the perceived need for remedial measures to ensure improved arbitration procedures. The thesis then examines the effect of the court's powers on effective arbitration, particularly prior to the award. The current South African law is discussed as well as the changes proposed by the Law Commission in the context of domestic and international arbitration. The South African position is compared with that in Germany, both before and since the introduction of the UNCITRAL Model Law in 1998. After a general discussion of the powers of the court in the context of arbitration, two aspects are identified for special attention. The first is the power of the tribunal to rule on its own jurisdiction and the interaction between the powers of the court with those of the tribunal in this regard. The second concerns the granting of interim measures in the context of arbitration proceedings, with particular attention to security for costs. In certain circumstances, and depending on the applicable rules and legislation, it may be more appropriate for a party to seek such relief from the tribunal, whereas in slightly different circumstances it may be preferable to seek such relief from the court. Finally, steps are considered, which can usefully be taken by the arbitral tribunal itself to promote effective arbitration by using the flexibility of the process. The extent to which the tribunal is "master of its procedure" and thereby able to counter delaying tactics effectively is subject to the doctrine of party autonomy. Specific techniques for more effective arbitral procedures are suggested, namely a more interventionist approach, the use of preliminary meetings, imposing timetables, improving the hearing, the effective use of documentary evidence and discovery and finally the possibility of documents-only arbitration. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Arbitrasie word wyd beskou as 'n belangrike alternatief tot litigasie, veral by internasionale handelsgeskille. Kommer bestaan egter tans dat arbitrasie te stadig en te duur word, gedeeltelik deur die gebruik van prosedures wat te veel met dié van die howe ooreenstem. Doeltreffende arbitrasie vereis geskikte wetgewing, die ondersteuning van die partye en hulle regsverteenwoordigers en toepaslike inisiatiewe deur die arbitrasietribunaal. Die "UNCITRAL Model Law on International Commercial Arbitration" van 1985 is die internasionaal aanvaarde standaard waarteen die gehalte van 'n land se wetgewing vir internasionale kommersiële arbitrasie gemeet moet word. 'n Kritieke oorweging by geskikte wetgewing is die rol van die howe. Hierdie tesis behandel die stappe wat in Duitsland en Suid-Afrika reeds geneem is of wat nog geneem moet word om doeltreffende arbitrasie te bewerkstellig. Dit begin met 'n kort oorsig oor die soort vertragingstaktiek wat dikwels in die internasionale arbitrasiepraktyk raakgeloop word, insluitende misbruik van die hof se bevoegdhede van toesighouding en inmenging. Die ontvangs van die "UNCITRAL Model Law" in Duitsland en Suid-Afrika word bespreek. Die wet is in Duitsland vir sowel binnelandse as internasionale arbitrasie ingevoer. Die Suid-Afrikaanse Regskommissie het sy invoering vir internasionale arbitrasie in Suid-Afrika aanbeveel. Die regskommissie het egter 'n nuwe afsonderlike wet vir binnelandse arbitrasie aanbeveel weens die gewaarde behoefte aan regstellende middele om verbeterde arbitrasieprosedures te verseker. Die tesis ondersoek daarna die uitwerking van die hof se bevoegdhede op doeltreffende arbitrasie, veral voor die arbitrasietoekenning. Die huidige Suid-Afrikaanse reg en die wysigings, wat deur die Regskommissie vir internasionale en binnelandse arbitrasie voorgestel word, word oorweeg. Die Suid-Afrikaanse posisie word met dié van Duitsland, voor en na die invoering van die "UNCITRAL Model Law" in 1998, vergelyk. Na 'n algemene bespreking van die hof se bevoegdhede in die samehang van arbitrasie word twee sake vir besondere aandag gekies. Die eerste is die bevoegdheid van die arbitrasietribunaal om oor sy eie jurisdiksie te beslis en die wisselwerking tussen die hof se bevoegdhede en dié van die arbitrasietribunaal in hierdie verband. Die tweede het betrekking op die toestaan van tussentydse regshulp in die samehang van arbitrasieverrigtinge, met besondere verwysing na sekuriteit vir koste. In besondere omstandighede, met inagneming van toepaslike reëls en wetgewing, behoort 'n party verkieslik sodanige regshulp by die arbitrasietribunaal aan te vra, terwyl in effens ander omstandighede behoort die partyeerder die hof te nader. Ten slotte word stappe oorweeg wat nuttig deur die arbitrasietribunaal self geneem kan word om doeltreffende arbitrasie aan te moedig deur die buigsaamheid van die arbitrasieproses te benut. Die mate waarin die tribunaal meester van sy prosedure is en daardeur vertragingstaktiek doeltreffend kan bekamp, is onderworpe aan die leerstuk van partyoutonomie. Bepaalde tegnieke word voorgestelom meer doeltreffende arbitrasieprosedures te bevorder, naamlik 'n meer intervensionistiese benadering, die gebruik van reëlingsvergaderings, die oplegging van 'n rooster vir die arbitrasie, verbetering van die verhoorproses, die doeltreffende gebruik van skriftelike getuienis en blootlegging en laastens die moontlikheid van arbitrasie slegs op dokumente.

This thesis deals with the UNCITRAL Model Law, its general purpose and history, with the current situation and regulation of international commercial arbitration in Germany, with an examination of Canada's experiences with the Model Law and its acceptance by the Canadian Courts. It also deals with the question whether the Model Law really is an ideal arbitration law, and the thesis concludes with an evaluation of British Columbia's experiences and a strong recommendation to the German legislature to implement the UNCITRAL Model Law into the German statutes as soon as possible. The final chapter of this thesis contains a suggested English version of the new German International Commercial Arbitration Act. As an appendix, I have provided the texts of the British Columbia International Commercial Arbitration Act and the UNCITRAL Model Law. The intention of my thesis is to examine how Canada, and its province British Columbia in particular, have implemented the UNCITRAL Model Law. In this context, the analysis emphasizes on the modifications of the original Model Law made by the British Columbia legislature, the British Columbia International Commercial Arbitration Act of 1986, this Act's acceptance by the Courts of British Columbia, the acceptance of the Model Law by Canadian Courts in general, the improvements in the area of international commercial arbitration in Canada since 1986, and the B.C. International Commercial Arbitration Centre. There are two reasons for my investigation of the Canadian experience. The first reason is the fact that these Canadian experiences with the Model Law are of interest to the Federal Republic of Germany, because Canada was the first country in the world to adopt the UNCITRAL Model Law almost a decade ago, and the Federal Republic of Germany presently is considering implementing the Model Law as well. Therefore, Canada, and British Columbia in particular, can be exemplary models for Germany. The German adoption of the Model Law is another main issue of this thesis which deals with problems arising in Germany in connection with the implementation. My thesis is that the Federal Republic of Germany has to implement the UNCITRAL Model Law as soon as possible. Some facts to be discussed and results of my research that really support my thesis in this context are the goals of Germany concerning international commercial arbitration, the positive experiences of Canadian jurisdictions with the Model Law, the need for uniform commercial arbitration laws world-wide, and the warm reception of the Model Law by most international businesses and the Canadian Courts. In the discourse of my thesis, I basically try to prove four points, namely that the implementation of the UNCITRAL Model Law in Canada and in its province British Columbia has been a successful undertaking, that the Federal Republic of Germany also needs to implement the Model Law, that there are no problems with the enactment of the Model Law due to its international origin in Canada, and that there are not likely to be any problems in Germany concerning this matter, either, and finally, that the BC-ICAA is the ideal and ingenious continuation of the Model Law which can be recommended to the German legislature, (a) with all its modifications made by the British Columbia legislature, and (b) with certain other modifications that have to made for a country like Germany due to its constitutional, economical and geographical situation. This thesis hence tries to elaborate the ideal and perfect International Commercial Arbitration Act (or Law?) for Germany — thereby relying on the experiences and modifications made by British Columbia.

This thesis deals with the UNCITRAL Model Law, its general purpose and history, with the current situation and regulation of international commercial arbitration in Germany, with an examination of Canada's experiences with the Model Law and its acceptance by the Canadian Courts. It also deals with the question whether the Model Law really is an ideal arbitration law, and the thesis concludes with an evaluation of British Columbia's experiences and a strong recommendation to the German legislature to implement the UNCITRAL Model Law into the German statutes as soon as possible. The final chapter of this thesis contains a suggested English version of the new German International Commercial Arbitration Act. As an appendix, I have provided the texts of the British Columbia International Commercial Arbitration Act and the UNCITRAL Model Law. The intention of my thesis is to examine how Canada, and its province British Columbia in particular, have implemented the UNCITRAL Model Law. In this context, the analysis emphasizes on the modifications of the original Model Law made by the British Columbia legislature, the British Columbia International Commercial Arbitration Act of 1986, this Act's acceptance by the Courts of British Columbia, the acceptance of the Model Law by Canadian Courts in general, the improvements in the area of international commercial arbitration in Canada since 1986, and the B.C. International Commercial Arbitration Centre. There are two reasons for my investigation of the Canadian experience. The first reason is the fact that these Canadian experiences with the Model Law are of interest to the Federal Republic of Germany, because Canada was the first country in the world to adopt the UNCITRAL Model Law almost a decade ago, and the Federal Republic of Germany presently is considering implementing the Model Law as well. Therefore, Canada, and British Columbia in particular, can be exemplary models for Germany. The German adoption of the Model Law is another main issue of this thesis which deals with problems arising in Germany in connection with the implementation. My thesis is that the Federal Republic of Germany has to implement the UNCITRAL Model Law as soon as possible. Some facts to be discussed and results of my research that really support my thesis in this context are the goals of Germany concerning international commercial arbitration, the positive experiences of Canadian jurisdictions with the Model Law, the need for uniform commercial arbitration laws world-wide, and the warm reception of the Model Law by most international businesses and the Canadian Courts. In the discourse of my thesis, I basically try to prove four points, namely that the implementation of the UNCITRAL Model Law in Canada and in its province British Columbia has been a successful undertaking, that the Federal Republic of Germany also needs to implement the Model Law, that there are no problems with the enactment of the Model Law due to its international origin in Canada, and that there are not likely to be any problems in Germany concerning this matter, either, and finally, that the BC-ICAA is the ideal and ingenious continuation of the Model Law which can be recommended to the German legislature, (a) with all its modifications made by the British Columbia legislature, and (b) with certain other modifications that have to made for a country like Germany due to its constitutional, economical and geographical situation. This thesis hence tries to elaborate the ideal and perfect International Commercial Arbitration Act (or Law?) for Germany — thereby relying on the experiences and modifications made by British Columbia. / Law, Peter A. Allard School of / Graduate