Sabrina Pearson-Wenger – författare

From the perspective of users of international commercial arbitration, the uncertainties surrounding the application of good faith by an arbitral tribunal create an unwelcome unpredictability. Acknowledging this prevalent situation, this book is the first to study in depth the available international arbitral awards that have applied good faith, thus providing detailed guidance on how this notion is (and can be) applied by tribunals in international commercial arbitration. Moreover, the author proposes a set of deeply informed guidelines for the future application of good faith by arbitral tribunals to both the parties’ contract and the arbitration agreement.

This book provides a comprehensive description of the role and scope of good faith under governing laws in key jurisdictions (England, New York, Switzerland, France, Germany, China, Singapore, Hong Kong, Australia, and Canada) as well as under the CISG, the UNIDROIT Principles, and other uniform law and soft law instruments.

The book greatly clarifies the source and role of good faith with respect to the following issues surrounding the arbitration agreement:

formal validity of the arbitration agreement;

incorporation of the arbitration agreement by reference;

interpretation of the arbitration agreement;

capacity and power of the parties to arbitrate;

extension of an arbitration agreement to a non-signatory party;

pre-arbitration requirements to negotiate or mediate; and

performance of the arbitration agreement.

Proposed guidelines for the application of good faith to each of these issues are included, along with useful figures summarizing the content of the obligations to negotiate or mediate in good faith prior to resorting to arbitration as well as the obligation to arbitrate in good faith.

By analysing the role and scope of good faith under different national and non-national laws, this book will prove of inestimable value not only by providing invaluable insight into the recourse to good faith by arbitral tribunals but also by providing guidance on how good faith should be applied to the parties’ contract in international commercial arbitration. Arbitrators, as well as users of arbitration, will welcome the clarity on how good faith is applied to the various issues surrounding the arbitration agreement and, in particular, to the pre-arbitration requirements to negotiate or mediate as well as the performance of the arbitration agreement.

From the perspective of users of international commercial arbitration, the uncertainties surrounding the application of good faith by an arbitral tribunal create an unwelcome unpredictability. Acknowledging this prevalent situation, this book is the first to study in depth the available international arbitral awards that have applied good faith, thus providing detailed guidance on how this notion is (and can be) applied by tribunals in international commercial arbitration. Moreover, the author proposes a set of deeply informed guidelines for the future application of good faith by arbitral tribunals to both the parties’ contract and the arbitration agreement.

This book provides a comprehensive description of the role and scope of good faith under governing laws in key jurisdictions (England, New York, Switzerland, France, Germany, China, Singapore, Hong Kong, Australia, and Canada) as well as under the CISG, the UNIDROIT Principles, and other uniform law and soft law instruments.

The book greatly clarifies the source and role of good faith with respect to the following issues surrounding the arbitration agreement:

formal validity of the arbitration agreement;

incorporation of the arbitration agreement by reference;

interpretation of the arbitration agreement;

capacity and power of the parties to arbitrate;

extension of an arbitration agreement to a non-signatory party;

pre-arbitration requirements to negotiate or mediate; and

performance of the arbitration agreement.

Proposed guidelines for the application of good faith to each of these issues are included, along with useful figures summarizing the content of the obligations to negotiate or mediate in good faith prior to resorting to arbitration as well as the obligation to arbitrate in good faith.

By analysing the role and scope of good faith under different national and non-national laws, this book will prove of inestimable value not only by providing invaluable insight into the recourse to good faith by arbitral tribunals but also by providing guidance on how good faith should be applied to the parties’ contract in international commercial arbitration. Arbitrators, as well as users of arbitration, will welcome the clarity on how good faith is applied to the various issues surrounding the arbitration agreement and, in particular, to the pre-arbitration requirements to negotiate or mediate as well as the performance of the arbitration agreement.

Although considered a somewhat ‘hazy’ concept (particularly in common law), good faith may nevertheless be defined as a duty incumbent on a person negotiating or performing an agreement. Thus, it may be understood as obligatory on all parties in the conduct of arbitral proceedings. In this collection of expert chapters, notable jurists and legal academics from around the world fully investigate the multifaceted notion of good faith in international arbitration.

All the following aspects of the matter are covered:

detailed analysis of good faith in both common law and civil law traditions as reflected in doctrine, scholarship, and case law;

good faith implications in treaty interpretation;

using good faith as a negative defence against claims or as a positive basis for claims;

good faith in the specific field of international investment arbitration;

procedural aspects of the parties’ obligation to act in good faith during pre-arbitral negotiations, conciliation, and mediation, as well as during the arbitral proceedings;

the duty of arbitrators and arbitral institutions to act in good faith; and

the role of good faith in actions to set aside.

As an authoritative survey and analysis of how the concept of good faith has been applied in international arbitration – and defined in the case law relevant to it – this matchless book provides invaluable guidance to parties involved in international arbitral proceedings.