Research Article

Party Impecuniosity and International Arbitration: The Interplay between Failure to Pay the Advance Costs and Validity of Arbitration Agreement in International Arbitration

Volume: 40 Number: 1 June 30, 2020
  • Necip Fazıl Şanlı *
TR EN

Party Impecuniosity and International Arbitration: The Interplay between Failure to Pay the Advance Costs and Validity of Arbitration Agreement in International Arbitration

Abstract

The costs in international arbitration might be burdensome compared to the costs in litigation. The right to legal aid applies to almost none of the international arbitration proceedings. When an impecunious party fails to pay the advance on costs, it is very likely that the arbitrator(s) will suspend its work or even that may lead the relevant claims be considered as withdrawn. The problem emerges with the impecunious party which might be left without an arbitral forum and become deprived of its right to “access to justice” under Article 6 of the ECHR. The aim of this paper is to analyze how the balance between binding nature of arbitration agreement and impecunious party’s right to “access to justice” should be maintained in case of party impecuniosity in international arbitration. As a result of this analysis, it is worthwhile noting that mere proof of financial incapacity of a party failing to pay the costs of arbitration should not be sufficient to set aside an arbitration agreement in an international context. Exceptionally, the courts may allow continuation of court proceedings if the challenging party submits convincing evidence that the counterparty’s actions or behaviors have caused or largely contributed to its financial incapacity. The standard of proof to establish such link should be high, at least higher than prima facie standard exercised in review of enforceability of an arbitration agreement. The paper finally reviews alternative remedies that may promote access to arbitration.

Keywords

Supporting Institution

The author declared that this study has received no financial support.

References

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Details

Primary Language

English

Subjects

Law in Context

Journal Section

Research Article

Authors

Necip Fazıl Şanlı * This is me
0000-0002-6433-5921
Türkiye

Publication Date

June 30, 2020

Submission Date

May 20, 2020

Acceptance Date

June 5, 2020

Published in Issue

Year 2020 Volume: 40 Number: 1

APA
Şanlı, N. F. (2020). Party Impecuniosity and International Arbitration: The Interplay between Failure to Pay the Advance Costs and Validity of Arbitration Agreement in International Arbitration. Public and Private International Law Bulletin, 40(1), 573-611. https://izlik.org/JA56BD64PE
AMA
1.Şanlı NF. Party Impecuniosity and International Arbitration: The Interplay between Failure to Pay the Advance Costs and Validity of Arbitration Agreement in International Arbitration. PPIL. 2020;40(1):573-611. https://izlik.org/JA56BD64PE
Chicago
Şanlı, Necip Fazıl. 2020. “Party Impecuniosity and International Arbitration: The Interplay Between Failure to Pay the Advance Costs and Validity of Arbitration Agreement in International Arbitration”. Public and Private International Law Bulletin 40 (1): 573-611. https://izlik.org/JA56BD64PE.
EndNote
Şanlı NF (June 1, 2020) Party Impecuniosity and International Arbitration: The Interplay between Failure to Pay the Advance Costs and Validity of Arbitration Agreement in International Arbitration. Public and Private International Law Bulletin 40 1 573–611.
IEEE
[1]N. F. Şanlı, “Party Impecuniosity and International Arbitration: The Interplay between Failure to Pay the Advance Costs and Validity of Arbitration Agreement in International Arbitration”, PPIL, vol. 40, no. 1, pp. 573–611, June 2020, [Online]. Available: https://izlik.org/JA56BD64PE
ISNAD
Şanlı, Necip Fazıl. “Party Impecuniosity and International Arbitration: The Interplay Between Failure to Pay the Advance Costs and Validity of Arbitration Agreement in International Arbitration”. Public and Private International Law Bulletin 40/1 (June 1, 2020): 573-611. https://izlik.org/JA56BD64PE.
JAMA
1.Şanlı NF. Party Impecuniosity and International Arbitration: The Interplay between Failure to Pay the Advance Costs and Validity of Arbitration Agreement in International Arbitration. PPIL. 2020;40:573–611.
MLA
Şanlı, Necip Fazıl. “Party Impecuniosity and International Arbitration: The Interplay Between Failure to Pay the Advance Costs and Validity of Arbitration Agreement in International Arbitration”. Public and Private International Law Bulletin, vol. 40, no. 1, June 2020, pp. 573-11, https://izlik.org/JA56BD64PE.
Vancouver
1.Necip Fazıl Şanlı. Party Impecuniosity and International Arbitration: The Interplay between Failure to Pay the Advance Costs and Validity of Arbitration Agreement in International Arbitration. PPIL [Internet]. 2020 Jun. 1;40(1):573-611. Available from: https://izlik.org/JA56BD64PE