Thesis (M.A.)--City University of Hong Kong, 2005. / Title from title screen (viewed on Mar. 27, 2006) "MA in dispute resolution and arbitration." Includes bibliographical references.

Par un étonnant paradoxe, le contrôle étatique des sentences arbitrales internationales conduit à réintroduire la justice étatique là où les parties avaient voulu l’exclure. Mais ce paradoxe pourrait n’être qu’apparent. Une approche fondée sur la distinction entre les intérêts publics et les intérêts privés ouvre de nouvelles perspectives. L’examen réalisé par le juge étatique l’invite à s’assurer, d’une part, du respect par les arbitres des intérêts privés des parties et, d’autre part, à contrôler la compatibilité de la sentence avec ses intérêts publics. Aussi paraît-il concevable que l’intérêt en cause puisse modifier directement la nature du contrôle exercé. Parallèlement, le juge compétent est tantôt indirectement désigné par les parties, tantôt déterminé par le lieu d’exécution de la sentence. Par conséquent, il est légitime d’assigner aux juges de l’annulation et de l’exequatur une mission distincte, mais complémentaire. Le juge de l’annulation examinerait les intérêts privés et le juge de l’exequatur garantirait la conformité de la sentence aux intérêts publics. En définitive, la distinction des intérêts privés et des intérêts publics pourrait devenir un instrument de redéfinition du contrôle étatique des sentences arbitrales internationales. À la fois plus respectueux de la volonté des parties, plus protecteur des intérêts étatiques et offrant une solution au désordre actuel du contrôle des sentences arbitrales, ce nouveau paradigme concourrait à l’efficacité de l’arbitrage. / State control of international arbitral awards leads to a clear paradox, as it involves State court intervention to a procedure where the parties intended to exclude it. However, this paradox might only be a mirage. An approach based on the distinction between public interests and private interests opens up new perspectives. The review by the national judge invites him, on the one hand, to ensure the arbitrators’ compliance with the private interests of the parties, and, on the other hand, to control the compatibility of the award with public interests. Also, it seems conceivable that the interest in question could directly influence the nature of such control. At the same time, the competent judge is sometimes indirectly appointed by the parties, and sometimes determined by the place of enforcement of the award. It is therefore legitimate to give a separate, yet complementary, role to the annulment judge and to the enforcement judge. The annulment judge would consider the private interests whereas the enforcement judge would ensure the award's compliance with the public interests. Ultimately, the distinction between private interests and public interests could constitute the basis of redefining State control over international arbitral awards. More respectful of the will of the parties, more protective of State interests, this new paradigm would contribute to the effectiveness of arbitration.

This thesis deals with legislation of international arbitration in Czech republic and Portugal. The choice of international arbitration and of these countries particularly as the object of the work has not been done coincidentally of course, the reason is, despite Czech republic and Portugal are countries with that do have a lot in common, e.g. their membership in European Union, similar economic power and current situation and relatively significant activity in international trade that the area of Portuguese legislation of international arbitration and of the whole system of law from the Czech view and vice versa remains still almost unexplored. The choice of international arbitration was not random either. Such choice was made due to the fact that arbitration is probably the most significant way of out-of-court settlement of disputes in last years and decades with use still increasing. It offers parties a private settlement of litigation with easy enforceability of rendered arbitration award abroad, and foreing arbitration award at home. Therefore, the objectives of this work were not solely to describe the present legislation of international arbitration but also to enable the reader to comprehend particular legal provisions correctly in a sense of their legal background. The work analyses the...

Article II of the New York Convention on Recognition and Enforcement of the Foreign Arbitral Awards is a central provision concerning recognition and enforcement of foreign <I>arbitration agreements. </I>It is deemed, however, to be one of the most controversial provisions of the Convention. The main cause of the complexity of this article is that Article II was thought about and added to the body of the Convention on Recognition and Enforcement of <I>Foreign Arbitral Awards </I>at the last stages of the New York Conference. The hasty insertion of Article II has left unsettled many legal questions concerning arbitration agreements. In the application of the New York Convention, Article II has given rise to many questions. In fact, a substantial number of all national courts decisions so far reported deals, either completely or in part, with questions concerning arbitration agreements under Article II. This thesis is an attempt to trace most legal implications concerning the application and interpretation of Article II of the New York Convention. Many problems are observed. Those problems include the failure of this Article to identify the arbitration agreements to which the Convention applies, the failure to determine the law applicable to arbitration agreements, and the broad ambiguous sweep of the language used in Article II in many occasions. This study is, therefore, devoted to identifying these problems, establishing their nature and extent and finding a satisfactory solution to them with relevant suggestions and proposals. In dealing with these problems a description and analysis of legislative and judicial practice on the subject in various countries which are parties to the Convention have been made. It is noted in many places of this thesis that Article II of the New York Convention like many provisions of most international conventions may represent a compromise and thus it may not be entirely satisfactory in every aspect it deals with. Article II's shortcomings could be, however, cured by the courts. Establishing a new convention on the subject could be a very difficult if not impossible task. In this regard, an observation has been made on the question of the extent to which national courts, by the so-called "interpretation", have been willing to promote harmonious rules in the field of international commercial arbitration, despite the shortcomings of Article II.

Thesis (Ph.D.)--Aberdeen University, 1998. / Title from web page (viewed on Mar. 22, 2010). Includes bibliographical references.

Legal Regulation of International Arbitration Procedure in the Czech Republic and Argentina The purpose of my thesis is to describe the legal regulations of international arbitration in the Czech Republic and Argentina, find the differences between them and draw appropriate conclusions. The thesis begins with an introduction, where I outline the reasons why I chose this topic, the method used and the outcome that I plan to reach. Following the introduction, the thesis is divided into six chapters. The first chapter provides the reader with a general overview of basic concepts of arbitration. The chapter begins with an attempt to define what arbitration is by putting it in a historical context and then placing it within (or beyond) the scope of alternative dispute resolution. Next, the four main theoretical concepts, which are crucial for the understanding of arbitration, are outlined. The last part of the chapter contains the advantages and disadvantages of arbitration, which explain the popularity of (international) arbitration. The next chapter deals with the legal regulation of international arbitration in the Czech Republic. It opens with a brief description of development of arbitration throughout Czech history and then is divided into sub-chapters dealing with specific elements of...

Trois pays d’Amérique latine – la Bolivie, l’Équateur et le Venezuela – ont dénoncé la Convention pour le règlement des différends relatifs aux investissements entre États et ressortissants d’autres États. Cette « vague » de dénonciations témoigne d’un rejet du système d’arbitrage, créé par la Convention de Washington, considéré comme déséquilibré, antidémocratique, onéreux et discriminatoire. Aux yeux de l’Amérique latine, l’arbitrage CIRDI serait conçu pour bénéficier exclusivement aux investisseurs au détriment des États hôtes des investissements. Dans ce travail de recherche, l’approche de l’Amérique latine relative à la Convention de Washington sera présentée en deux étapes. D’abord, les évolutions liées au cadre économique et juridique latino-américain, des prémices de la Convention en 1964, jusqu’á son adoption définitive dans les années 90, seront analysées. Puis seront abordées les principales critiques émises actuellement contre le système d’arbitrage CIRDI. Quels sont les facteurs déterminants du changement dans les politiques en matière d’investissements étrangers en Amérique latine ? Les pays, qui ont dénoncé la Convention de Washington, ont-ils des raisons suffisamment valables de rejeter l’arbitrage transnational en matière d’investissements ? Le CIRDI a-t-il failli dans l’accomplissement de ses fonctions ? Ce travail de recherche vise à répondre à ces questions en analysant la Convention de Washington sous un angle latino-américain. / Three countries in Latin America - Bolivia, Ecuador and Venezuela - have denounced the Convention on the Settlement of Investment Disputes between States and Nationals of other States. This "wave" of denunciations reflects a negative perception of the arbitration system created by the ICSID Convention, which is described as unbalanced, undemocratic, expensive and discriminatory. In Latin America’s view, ICSID arbitration was created to benefit only to investors at the expense of investments’ host states. This research focuses on the Latin America’s approach on the Washington Convention addressing it in two stages. First, the Latin American economic and legal framework in the early discussions on the draft of the Convention in 1964 and its subsequent adoption in the 1990s will be addressed. Secondly, the subjects that currently arouse the main criticisms to the ICSID arbitration system will be detailed. What are the reasons of change in foreign investment policies in Latin America? Do the countries that denounced the Washington Convention have acceptable reasons for rejecting investments’ transnational arbitration? Did ICSID failed in the performance of its duties? This research aims to answer these questions by analyzing the Washington Convention from the Latin American perspective.

This thesis explores the rules of treaty interpretation as they are applied by foreign investment arbitral tribunals ("FIATs"). Its primary aims are: a) to determine whether FIAT treaty interpretation practice is generally consistent with other international courts and tribunals; b) to assess whether the treaty interpretation rules contained in the 1969 Vienna Convention on the Law of Treaties ("Vienna Convention") are suitable for application in investor-State treaty disputes; and c) to evaluate the contribution of FIAT treaty interpretation jurisprudence to international law. The body of the thesis provides a background to treaty interpretation rules in international law and then examines in detail the application of the rules of interpretation contained in the Vienna Convention by both international courts and tribunals and FIATs. It also explores modes of interpretation that have been deployed by these two groups which are not explicitly referenced in the Vienna Convention. Investigation is also made of some unique or notable aspects of FIAT jurisprudence that relates to treaty interpretation. The research was carried out primarily through the analysis of international court and tribunal decisions and FIAT awards. The principal findings of the thesis are that: a) a general congruence exists between the interpretative practice of FIATs and that of other international courts and tribunals; b) the application of the Vienna Convention rules on treaty interpretation are suitable for investment treaty arbitration, with some exceptions, e. g., in situations where investors have vastly disproportionate access to the preparatory work of treaties as compared with respondent States; and c) FIATs have made a significant contribution to the international law of treaty interpretation.

While international arbitration offers the prominent scheme for resolution of transnational disputes, the arbitration community must constantly examine areas of concern. Any system of justice, including the arbitration system, is not meant for abuse. Thus, it would be paradoxical to support a mischief that the arbitration system seeks to obviate. This could cast doubts as to the system's efficiency and induce distrust in a system formed to accommodate parties' interests and uphold their common intentions. In recent years, international arbitration has been plagued by different forms of procedural abuse. Abusive practices developed by parties may undermine the fair resolution of disputes and frustrate the administration of arbitral justice. There are pre-existing tools and legal rules at the disposal of arbitrators that can be utilised to prevent abuse and administer arbitral justice. However, these tools are inherently rigid in their application. The thesis introduces the principle of abuse of rights in international arbitration and argues for its application as a general principle of law to prevent the transmogrification of international arbitration into a process profoundly tainted with abuse. The virtue and efficacy of a single theory with a wide scope of application and an overarching premise, is that it can be used to address different abusive behaviours, and equally enjoys the flexibility of general principles of law.

The thesis explores the concept of International Arbitration, an alternative to litigation. It argues the benefits and the inherent limitations parties are likely to face while resorting to this instrument to resolve Transfer of Technology and Intellectual Property related disputes. The paper further explains how Arbitrability limitations can be taken care of in relation to transfer of technology disputes. Emphasis is placed on the institutional role of the World Intellectual Property Organization’s Arbitration and Mediation Center as an appropriate arbitration forum to deal with complex technological and Intellectual Property related disputes.