• Journal of Arbitration Studies
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• v.28 no.2
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• pp.217-248
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• 2018

This paper reviews the Supreme Court of Japan in Decision of December 12, 2017, 2016 (Kyo) 43 (2011) concerning arbitrator's duty of disclosure and reasonable investigation under the Japan Arbitration Act (Arbitration Act). The Supreme Court of Japan recently issued a precedential decision interpreting, for the first time, the arbitrator disclosure requirements of the Arbitration Act. Under Article 18(4) of the Arbitration Act, arbitrators have an ongoing obligation to disclose circumstances which may give rise to justifiable doubts as to their impartiality or independence. The Supreme Court held that Article 18(4) of the Arbitration Act - requiring arbitrators to disclose all "facts likely to give rise to doubts as to his/her impartiality or independence" - (1) is not satisfied by blanket disclosures or advance waivers of potential future conflicts, and (2) requires disclosure of facts both known to an arbitrator or "that can be normally ascertained by an investigation that is reasonably possible${\cdots}$" This new standard presents opportunities and challenges for enforcing arbitration awards in Japan, and suggests measures that both arbitrators and parties can use to protect their awards. Also, the Supreme Court's new standards for evaluating arbitrator conflict disclosures suggest some measures that both arbitrators and parties to arbitration in Japan can take to protect the enforceability of their awards. The key factual question posed by the Supreme Court's ruling was whether an arbitrator's conflicts check was reasonable. Maintaining records regarding a review of potential conflicts or any investigation provides a ready source of proof in case of a future challenge. The Supreme Court has spoken clearly that so-called advance waivers of potential conflicts are not effective under Japanese law. Instead, to the extent that potential conflicts arise during the course of arbitration, they should be specifically disclosed.

• Journal of Arbitration Studies
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• v.29 no.4
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• pp.165-186
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• 2019

The parties are jointly and severally liable to pay to the arbitrators such reasonable fees and expenses (if any) as are appropriate in the circumstances. Any party may apply to the court (upon notice to the other parties and to the arbitrators) which may order that the amount of the arbitrators' fees and expenses shall be considered and adjusted by such means and upon such terms as it may direct. Arbitrators' fees and expenses are calculated on the basis of informal time fees determined by the arbitrators themselves, and the fees and expenses also vary greatly depending on the nature of the case. Obviously, when appointing a member of the LMAA as an arbitrator, it is rare to negotiate the fees and expenses with the arbitrator and to make specific arrangements for the fees and expenses. And it is common for between an arbitrator and a party to have an arbitrator agreement only in accordance with LMAA Terms. And it is common for between an arbitrator and a party to have an arbitrator agreement only in accordance with LMAA Terms. The purpose of this study analyzes the structure of arbitrators' fees and expenses under the UK Arbitration Act and LMAA Terms 2017. The contents can be divided into the relationship between the arbitrator and the parties (the claim of fees, the type of fees) and the relationship between the parties(the burden rate of arbitrators' fees). In this regard, this study suggests the implications after comparatively analyzing the UK Arbitration Act and the LMAA Terms 2017.

• Journal of Arbitration Studies
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• v.13 no.1
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• pp.207-244
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• 2003

There are many parties who connected with contracts like a contract for construction. Dispute arising from the two parties can be souled by themselves. but it grows the necessity of settlement at one effort. The meaning of multiparty arbitration is solution of mixed disputes without inconsistency through multiparty concerned. H the parses wish to settle the disputes by arbitration, they must come to an arbitration agreement. The arbitration agreement is necessary to resolve disputes autonomously, that may be in the form of a separate agreement or in the form of a clause in a contract. More ever it is resonable to view the arbitration agreement as a substantive contract in its legal nature enabling the authority for dispute resolution by the arbitrator. I had argument about who should appoint the arbitrator. That is to say, each party can appoint the arbitrator, otherwise the courts can appoint one. The basis of multiparty arbitration is focused on the factor that the courts may have the right to order the consolidation of arbitration proceedings without consent of the parties. The dispute can be settled by the arbitrators who are appointed. Appointing arbitrator is very important because it affects the party's equality. The right to appoint arbitrator shall be entitled each party in multiparty arbitration. Therefore they can appoint plural arbitrators by mutual agreement. for .reference to Rules of Arbitration of The International Chamber of Commerce, the Court shall appoint a sole arbitrator or three arbitrators in condition. The Arbitration Act of Korea dose not have the clause on multiparty arbitration including the arbitration rules. But if we have the clause enacted, it brings a situation in which both parties gain a benefit.

• Journal of Arbitration Studies
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• v.21 no.1
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• pp.239-257
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• 2011

This article examines the requirements of Article 37 of the ICDR International Arbitration Rules and issues that could arise if a party petitions a U.S. Federal Court to enforce an emergency arbitrator's Article 37 decision to grant pre-arbitration provisional relief. On May 1, 2006, ICDR introduced a new procedure for the granting of emergency arbitral relief under its ICDR Rules. The procedure enables a party to apply for emergency interim relief before the appointment of an arbitrator or tribunal to adjudicate the merits of the dispute. Instead, the application for emergency relief is considered by an emergency arbitrator appointed by the ICDR. In short, the ICDR has quickly appointed emergency arbitrator and resolved a challenge to an appointment within 36 hours. In addition, the emergency decisions have been issued within just a couple of weeks. In particular, we looked at what would happen after Article 37 emergency relief is granted. Based on my examination of U.S. cases on the enforceability of interim awards and orders, We conclude that U.S. courts would enforce Article 37 interim measures, whether they are characterized by the emergency arbitrator as an interim order or award. Where the situation warrants, arbitration executives should embrace and use emergency relief procedure of ICDR Rules.

• THE INTERNATIONAL COMMERCE & LAW REVIEW
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• v.78
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• pp.31-51
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• 2018

As International arbitration has increased in popularity, there has been an expansion in the pool of arbitrators, and a commensurate diversification of not only the legal backgrounds but cultural backgrounds among themand among parties. As a result, there has been increased attention on the standards used to evaluate arbitrators' conduct and ethics, especially among them, 'Impartiality and Independence of Arbitrator' which is a precondition for an acceptable awards. There is no international treaty or code governing these issues. But the International Bar Association(IBA) seems to be leading the way such as establishing practical guidelines regarding to impartiality and independence of arbitrator. This article will review some theories, cases about impartiality and independence of arbitrator, and practical standards through the IBA guidelines. It is intended to provide specific guidance and criteria to the arbitrators, parties and counsels. And also it is expected to prevent unnecessary delays in arbitration proceedings in advance and filing for the annulment of arbitral awards because of lack of impartiality and independence of arbitrator as well.

• Journal of Arbitration Studies
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• v.28 no.2
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• pp.45-66
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• 2018

Two years ago, an emergency arbitrator procedure in accordance with the international arbitration rule has been finally adopted in Korea?a decade after its introduction. Arbitral institutions provide interim measures in the course of tribunal proceedings to avoid litigation in open court that is often expensive and time-consuming. An emergency arbitrator procedure offers an urgent relief prior to the constitution of an arbitral tribunal, thus enhancing the speed and effectiveness of the arbitration procedure even further. Although most of the arbitral institutions interpret that the emergency arbitration rulings are binding on the parties, enforcing the emergency arbitration provisions have some difficulties in practice, and it is not clear whether or not arbitral interim measures will be enforceable under the newly adopted provisions in Korea. In this study, experiences in other countries are explored in seeking for the possible problems and solutions of enforcing the emergency arbitration rulings. For example, Singapore and Hong Kong insert terms such as "finality," "enforceable in the same manner as an order or direction of the Court," "same effect as an arbitral tribunal or interim measures" in their emergency arbitrator legislation to enhance enforcement. Moreover, "urgency inherent" are considered.

• Journal of Arbitration Studies
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• v.19 no.3
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• pp.141-160
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• 2009

This article examines some factors that should be taken into consideration as the number of arbitrators to constitute arbitral tribunal, how to select them and the characteristics of arbitrators by their expert field, and the various problems that may arise in selection of arbitrators. When dispute parties select one arbitrator or a chairman of arbitral tribunal, they should consider the characteristic of case. When legal problem is more important, they should select a lawyer, whereas when trade practice is more important, they should select a businessman. Especially, when they decide to select a businessman as one arbitrator or a chairman of arbitral tribunal, they allow him not to write the reason of award if possible because he is lack of know-how to write it. Also, dispute parties should acquire the information of the main career and character of arbitrator, his experience of arbitration and so on before they select him.

• Journal of Arbitration Studies
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• v.21 no.1
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• pp.33-56
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• 2011

Korea Supreme Court has cancelled four cases of thirty-nine Arbitral awards made by Korean Commercial Arbitration Board since Korea arbitration act was enacted in 1966. Three cases of them were cancelled by the reason of the arbitrator's disqualification in relation to impartiality or independence and the other to arbitration agreement enable to select the lawsuit or arbitration. When a person is approached in connection with his possible appointment as an arbitrator or has already been appointed as such, he shall without delay disclose all circumstances likely to give rise to justifiable doubts as to his impartiality or independence according to the one of the article 13 of Korean Arbitration Act. Upon being notified of the appointment as an arbitrator, each arbitrator shall immediately disclose in writing to the Secretariat any circumstances which might cause reasonable doubt about impartiality or independence. An arbitration agreement shall be made clearly and in writing not to appeal to the court or to be brought in the court. However most of the korean construction contracts have the arbitration agreement clause enable to appeal to the court or the arbitration on government official's advice. Many of these disputes are resolved by litigation after the precedent(Law case number : 2003da318) set by the Supreme Court on August 22, 2003 between the Korea(government) and the Korea Railroad or abandoned its attempt to arbitration. But each year, about four hundreds of arbitration business transactions were resolved arbitration, the voluntary submission of a dispute to an impartial person or persons for final and binding determination. Arbitration has proven to be an effective way to resolve these disputes privately, promptly, and economically.

• Journal of Arbitration Studies
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• v.21 no.2
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• pp.65-83
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• 2011

The purpose of Emergency Arbitrator System is to provide parties with the possibility of obtaining interim measures before constitution of the arbitral tribunal. This paper examines the Emergency Arbitrator System set forth in Article 32 and Appendix II of Arbitration Rules of Stockholm Chamber of Commerce (SCC) in comparison with Article 37 of ICDR International Arbitration Rules. This paper also provides a case study of 4 Decisions rendered by Emergency Arbitrators under the auspices of SCC in 2010. It was found that it took only 4 days on average from the date upon which the request for emergency interim measures was registered to SCC to the decision rendered by Emergency Arbitrators. The figures of average days reflect its rapidity well, one of the most preferred characteristics of arbitration. However, a case study of SCC decisions shows that only one request for interim measures was successfully granted. In other words, it was found that the requirements for granting of interim measures by emergency arbitrator were quite strictly applied. If interim measures is to be granted, it was found that the requesting party should prove to satisfy the requirements for granting of interim measures as follows: First, the requesting party has to demonstrate that it may suffer irreparable or serious harm in commercially-sensible, not in a strictly literal sense unless the interim measure is granted. Second, the party requesting interim measures has to persuade the Emergency Arbitrator that the request was of an urgent nature. Third, the requesting party is required to meet the reasonable possibility that it may succeed on the merits of the claim.

• Journal of Arbitration Studies
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• v.18 no.1
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• pp.3-30
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• 2008

This paper is to research the current status of ADR in Korea, the qualifications of mediator (or conciliator) and arbitrator, the ADR education program of major foreign arbitration-related institutions and the efficient management device of ADR education program for the activation of the ADR system. In 2007, arbitration applications received at the Korean Commercial Arbitration Board numbered 320 and the amount involved those cases was US$ 216 millions. Mediation applications received at the KCAB numbered 552 and the amount involved those cases US$ 29millions. As of December 2007, the total numbers of arbitrators on the KCAB Panel of Arbitrators was 978. There are no provisions for the qualification of arbitrator in the UNCITRAL Model Law on International Commercial Arbitration and Arbitration Act of Korea. The KCAB has the consolidation regulation of the Panel of Arbitrator of which purpose is to regulate the criteria and procedure regarding the drawing up and maintenance of the panel of arbitrators. The UK Chartered Institute of Arbitrators has the criteria and qualifications for membership of which three grades are associate, member and fellow. The American Arbitration Association has the qualification criteria for admittance to the AAA National Roster of Arbitrators and Mediators. The Japan Association of Arbitrators has the official authorization regulation for membership of which three grades are special associate, ordinary associate and fellow. The UK Chartered Institute of Arbitrators has the ADR education programs which are composed of the mediation courses and arbitration courses. The American arbitrators Association has the ADR education programs which are composed of in-person training and online training. The Japan Association of Arbitrators has the ADR education programs which are composed of the cultivation courses of conciliator and the practical training courses of arbitrator. The efficient management devices of ADR education program are as follows: the execution of official authorization system of arbitrator, the establishment of specialized division for training and official authorization, the establishment of ADR regular training courses, the publication of ADR training texts and obtaining of instructors, and the consolidation of regulations related to the official authorization of arbitrator and ADR training. In conclusion, for the activation of ADR system, the KCAB and Korean Association of Arbitrators should make further effort to provide the ADR regular education and training programs for potential and practicing conciliators and arbitrators.