Is there any advantage to choosing Paris as the place of arbitration for an ICSID or other arbitration between a State and a private party?
Yes. Paris is recognized for its specific advantages as a seat for both commercial and treaty arbitrations between private entities and States or state entities. Sovereign states and private enterprises both recognize Paris as a neutral and sophisticated forum. Treaty disputes brought before the International Centre for the Settlement of Investment Disputes (ICSID) are often held in Paris, with hearings at the European Headquarters of the World Bank – although the legal importance of the place of the arbitration is very different in ICSID cases as compared to other arbitrations. Treaty and commercial disputes involving states are also frequently submitted to International Chamber of Commerce (ICC) or other institutional arbitration. These arbitrations, in which the legal role of the seat maintains its full importance, are often seated in Paris.
FAQ
- Will I easily find interpreters and court reporters in Paris to assist me during my arbitration?
- How often will I have to travel to Paris during the arbitral procedure?
- Is there any major consideration to take into account when selecting the seat of arbitration?
- Can I select Paris as the seat for an ad hoc arbitration?
- Is Paris a good choice of seat for institutional arbitrations?
- Does the law applicable to the contract usually determine the seat of the arbitration?
- When I decide to hold an international arbitration in Paris, am I free to choose the language of the procedure and the law that will govern my contract?
- By holding my arbitration in Paris, am I obliged to conduct the arbitral proceedings with French arbitrators and lawyers?
- In choosing Paris as my seat of arbitration, do I guarantee the independence of my arbitrators?
- Can I easily find specialists in my field in Paris?
- Does France have its own “idea” of what international arbitration means?
- Is Paris a leading venue in terms of the number of arbitrations held over recent years?
- Is Paris a well-regarded seat of arbitration?