ICC INTERNATIONAL COURT OF ARBITRATION functions, the Court is mindful of its duty to make every effort to ensure
that awards are enforceable at law.
ICC International Court of Arbitration Importantly, the Court is not a court in the judicial sense of the term. It does not itself resolve disputes or decide who wins or who loses an The International Court of Arbitration is the world's leading body for arbitration. It does not award damages or even costs. Those are all the resolution of international disputes by arbitration. functions reserved for independent arbitral tribunals appointed in accordance with the Rules. The universal scope of the International Court of Arbitration, commonly known as "the Court", is evidenced by the fact that each year, numerous The Court's specific functions under the Rules include: parties, arbitrators and lawyers from countries of every economic, political a. Fixing the place of arbitration and social system are present in ICC arbitrations. b. Assessing whether there is a prima facie ICC Arbitration agreement The Rules of Arbitration and the Rules for Mediation are contained in publication number 865. c. Taking certain necessary decisions in complex multi-party or multi- contract arbitrations The Court members’ diverse professional, legal and cultural backgrounds d. Confirming, appointing and replacing arbitrators brings a richness to the Court’s daily work and decision making processes. e. Deciding on any challenges filed against arbitrators The Court is one of the world's most experienced and renowned f. Monitoring the arbitral process from the filing of the request for international arbitration institutions. Working closely with its Secretariat, the arbitration to the notification of the final award to ensure that it Court’s primary role is to administer ICC Arbitrations. It performs the proceeds in accordance with the Rules and with the required commitment to diligence and efficiency functions entrusted to it under the ICC Rules of Arbitration and continually strives to assist parties and arbitrators to overcome any procedural g. Scrutinizing and approving all arbitral awards, in the interests of obstacles that arise. improving their quality and enforceability
h. Setting, managing and, if necessary, adjusting costs of the
In performing its functions, the Court is mindful of its duty to make every arbitration, including the ICC administrative expenses and the effort to ensure that awards are enforceable at law. arbitrators’ fees and expenses
i. Overseeing emergency arbitrator proceedings
Functions of the ICC International Court of Arbitration
Working closely with its Secretariat, the Court’s primary role is to
Secretariat of the Court administer ICC Arbitrations. The Court’s Secretariat comprises a permanent staff of more than 80 The Court performs the functions entrusted to it under the ICC Rules of lawyers and support personnel. Arbitration and continually strives to assist parties and arbitrators to overcome any procedural obstacles that arise. In performing its Headed by a Secretary General, it assists the Court in performing its functions as well as performing numerous functions of its own in accordance with the Rules and the Court’s practices.
The Secretariat is divided into nine case-management teams, each dealing
principally with cases relating to certain regions or language groups. Seven of the teams are based in Paris, the eighth in Hong Kong and the ninth in New York. Each team is led by a Counsel, and comprises two or three deputy counsel plus administrative assistants.
In deciding which team to allocate a new arbitration to, the Secretary
General considers such factors as the parties' nationalities, the place of arbitration, the languages and laws involved, and any other relevant factors. Based on that assessment, the Secretary General allocates the case to the most suitable team. The assigned team then becomes the principal point of contact for all players involved in the arbitration. The team assists the parties, counsel and arbitrators in applying the Rules and briefs the Court on its decisions.
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List of Current Court Members
Languages of the Court, Secretariat and of ICC Arbitrations
The Court’s official working languages are English and French.