Is an arbitration award easier to enforce abroad than a court judgment?

Often yes. The New York Convention requires its 170+ member states to recognise and enforce foreign arbitral awards with limited refusal grounds.

Can you appeal an arbitral award?

Generally not on the merits; challenges are limited to narrow grounds such as procedural irregularity or lack of a valid arbitration agreement.

Is arbitration always more expensive than litigation?

Not necessarily. For straightforward commercial disputes a single-arbitrator proceeding can be faster and cheaper than multi-year litigation; costs depend on the institution, the amount in dispute and the complexity of the case.

What makes an arbitration clause "pathological"?

A clause is pathological if it is internally inconsistent, names a non-existent institution, or creates uncertainty about whether the parties intended arbitration at all, making it likely to be unenforceable.

Can interim measures be obtained during arbitration?

Yes. Most arbitration rules allow emergency arbitrator proceedings for urgent relief; parties can also approach a Dutch court for provisional measures without waiving the arbitration agreement.

Arbitration Clause

Refers disputes to private, binding arbitration instead of the public courts, fixing rules, seat and language.

Ce que c'est

An arbitration clause commits the parties to resolve disputes by binding arbitration before private arbitrators rather than a public court. It specifies the institution and rules (e.g. NAI, ICC), the seat, number of arbitrators and language. Awards are widely enforceable internationally under the New York Convention.

Pourquoi c'est important

Arbitration offers confidentiality, expert decision-makers and easier cross-border enforcement, but it can be costly and provides limited appeal rights. Choosing it deliberately and drafting the clause completely avoids unenforceable "pathological" clauses.

Comment l'appliquer

Name the institution and rules, the seat, the language and number of arbitrators.
Confirm the arbitration is binding and final, with limited grounds to challenge.
Decide whether confidentiality applies to the proceedings and the award.
Preserve the right to seek urgent interim measures from a court.

Exemple de formulation

Any dispute arising out of or in connection with this Agreement shall be finally settled by arbitration under the Rules of the Netherlands Arbitration Institute (NAI). The seat is Amsterdam and the language of the arbitration is English.

Conseils de négociation

• For smaller disputes, agree a single arbitrator to keep costs proportionate.
• Pick a seat in a New York Convention state for reliable enforcement.

Pièges courants

• A "pathological" clause naming a non-existent institution or contradictory forums.
• Forgetting that arbitration usually excludes appeal on the merits.

Références juridiques

Rv art. 1020 Dutch Arbitration Act (Arbitragewet, Rv Book 4) Droit néerlandais
New York Convention on enforcement of awards

Sauf mention contraire, les références renvoient au droit néerlandais (Burgerlijk Wetboek, le Code civil néerlandais) ; les instruments de l'UE tels que le RGPD s'appliquent dans toute l'UE. Il s'agit d'informations générales, pas de conseils juridiques. D'autres juridictions traitent ces concepts différemment. Vérifiez le texte en vigueur et votre situation avec un avocat qualifié.

Foire aux questions

Questions courantes sur cette clause.