词条 | Arbitration in the British Virgin Islands |
释义 |
Arbitration in the British Virgin Islands is regulated principally by the Arbitration Act, 2013[1] which came into force on 1 October 2014.[2] Prior to that date, arbitration was regulated by the Arbitration Cap, 1976 (Cap 6). The Arbitration Act is based heavily on the UNCITRAL Model Law on International Commercial Arbitration, but modified slightly for application under British Virgin Islands law.[3] Where the parties have agreed in writing that disputes between them are to be resolved by arbitration, the courts must stay any court proceedings in favour of arbitration unless the court determines that the agreement is void.[4] The Arbitration Act provides for the creation of a new statutory body called the BVI International Arbitration Centre.[5] However, the organs of that body have not yet been appointed. Draft subsidiary legislation, the BVI IAC Rules, have been circulated for private sector comment, but not yet brought into force. Accordingly, at present all arbitration in the British Virgin Islands is conducted as ad hoc arbitrations. New York ConventionThe British Virgin Islands acceded to the 1958 New York Convention on 25 May 2014. Prior to that date it was possible to enforce arbitral awards from New York Convention states under the old Arbitration Cap, 1976 which had incorporated the provisions of the Convention into domestic law with effect to the recognition of overseas arbitration awards. However, it was not reciprocal - it was not possible at the time to have a British Virgin Islands arbitration award recognised in another Convention state under the 1958 Convention.[6] The British Virgin Islands courts may only decline to recognise a foreign arbitral award from a Convention state on the following grounds:[7]
An award which contains decisions on matters not submitted to arbitration may be enforced to the extent that the award contains decisions on matters submitted to arbitration which can be separated from those on matters not so submitted. CompaniesPrior to 1 January 2005, when the BVI Business Companies Act, 2004 came into force, it was standard for companies incorporated in the British Virgin Islands to include an arbitration clause in the articles of association. Under the law at the time, this limited the ability of a minority shareholder to seek relief from the courts on the basis of a just and equitable winding-up. The law has since been modified to provide other forms of minority shareholder relief in cases of unfair prejudice.[8] Court assistanceArbitration in the British Virgin Islands is intended to be conducted with minimal interferences with, or assistance from, the courts. However the British Virgin Islands court retain jurisdiction to give interim relief to support the arbitration process where required.[9] BVI International Arbitration CentreThe British Virgin Islands International Arbitration Centre (usually referred to as the "BVI IAC") provided for under the legislation is to officially open on 17 November 2016.[10] The BVI IAC will open with a panel of 170 arbitrators available to determine party disputes.[10] The inaugural board of the BVI IAC is Mr. John Beechey (Chairman), Mr. Mark Forte, Mr. Cherno Jallow, QC, Mr. Murray Smith and Ms. Felice Swapp.[11] Footnotes1. ^No. 13 of 2013. 2. ^{{cite web|url=http://www.harneys.com/publications/legal-updates/bvis-arbitration-act-2013-is-now-in-force|title=BVI’s Arbitration Act 2013 is now in force|publisher=Harney Westwood & Riegels|date=1 October 2014}} 3. ^{{cite web|url=http://www.harneys.com/publications/legal-updates/bvi-passes-new-arbitration-act|title=BVI passes new Arbitration Act|publisher=Harney Westwood & Riegels|date=23 January 2014}} 4. ^Arbitration Act, section 18(1) (incorporating UNCITRAL Model Law, article 8). 5. ^Arbitration Act, section 93. 6. ^{{cite book|authorlink=Harney Westwood & Riegels |title=British Virgin Islands Commercial Law |url= |edition=2nd |accessdate= |year=2012 |publisher=Sweet & Maxwell |location= |isbn=9789626614792 |at=para 8.342}} 7. ^Arbitration Act, section 86. 8. ^See generally, BVI Business Companies Act, Part XA. 9. ^Arbitration Act, section 43(2). See also {{cite web |url=http://www.harneys.com/publications/legal-updates/bvi-arbitration-act-interim-relief |title=BVI Arbitration Act interim relief |publisher=Harney Westwood & Riegels |date=11 February 2015}} 10. ^1 {{Cite web|url=http://bvinews.com/new/arbitration-centre-opens-next-month-with-170-mediators/|title=Arbitration centre opens next month; 170 mediators|publisher=BVI News|date=6 October 2016}} 11. ^{{Cite web|url=http://www.bvifsc.vg/News/tabid/160/articleType/ArticleView/articleId/1514/language/en-GB/Cabinet-Appoints-Inaugural-Board-of-the-BVI-International-Arbitration-Centre--Press-Release-No-1-of-2015.aspx|title=Cabinet Appoints Inaugural Board of the BVI International Arbitration Centre - Press Release No. 1 of 2015|publisher=British Virgin Islands Financial Services Commission|date=10 September 2015}} External links
3 : British Virgin Islands law|Economy of the British Virgin Islands|Arbitration by country |
随便看 |
开放百科全书收录14589846条英语、德语、日语等多语种百科知识,基本涵盖了大多数领域的百科知识,是一部内容自由、开放的电子版国际百科全书。