Arbitration in Switzerland

The Swiss Arbitration Law

Due to its political neutrality, Switzerland is one of the preferred countries in the world in international arbitration matters. Switzerland is home to many international institutions and dispute resolution organizations such as the United Nations, the World Trade Organization (WTO) or the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO). The main regulatory instrument for arbitration in Switzerland is the International Arbitration Law of the Federal Private International Law Act, Chapter 12 issued in 1987. The Swiss Federal Private International Law Act contains 18 articles that favor arbitration.

Features of the Swiss arbitration law

The main trait of the arbitration law in Switzerland is that it recognizes the principle of party autonomy. However, there are other characteristics that make Switzerland an international arbitration center:

• -        arbitration in Switzerland is conducted according to the international rules of all important arbitration institutions;
• -        Swiss arbitration allows parties to select the language of the procedures and the laws that will be applied;
• -        Parties can choose the arbitrators;
• -        Disputes regarding financial matters can be arbitrated;
• -        Commercial disputes can be arbitrated;
• -        Equal treatment applied to both parties;
• -        State courts are restricted from intervening in arbitration cases in Switzerland;
• -        The arbitration law in Switzerland allows only few limited possibilities for award challenges.

The Swiss Rules of international arbitration

The Swiss rules of international arbitration, simply known as the Swiss rules, were enabled in 2004 and are based on the UNCITRAL Arbitration Rules of 1976. The Swiss rules represent the outcome of the unification of all arbitration regulations of the Chambers of Commerce of Basle, Berne, Geneva, Lausanne, Lugano, Neuchâtel and Zurich. Articles 176 to 194 are the main legal frame work for international arbitration in Switzerland in Chapter 12 of the Federal Code on Private International Law established in 1987 (Swiss CPIL).  Chapter 12 in the Swiss CPIL was customized to meet the international business society for commercial arbitration regulations. Chapter 12 states that parties are allowed to choose the applicable rules in cases of commercial disputes or make their own rules for settling a disagreement.

Domestic arbitration falls under the Federal Civil Procedure Code (CPC), Articles 353 to 399 starting 2011 unless the parties agree to settle their disagreements according to Chapter 12 of the Swiss Rules.

The arbitration agreement in Switzerland

The arbitration agreement in Switzerland has independent substantive regulations in order to abstain from referring to national of foreign rules. According to Article 178, paragraph 1 of the Swiss Code on Private International Law in order to become valid, the arbitration agreement must be written and it must be concluded according to the laws agreed upon by both parties, or according to the Swiss law the contract was signed under. A Swiss arbitration agreement cannot be challenged on the motive of invalidity of the constitutive contract.

If you want details about the arbitration law  you can contact our law firm in Switzerland. Our attorneys can also provide you with personalzed consultancy for your case.