SAC launches formal arbitrator appointment system

A formal arbitral appointment system, with an expanded independent Arbitral Appointments Committee, has been launched by the Scottish Arbitration Centre.

Directions and guidance for the appointment of an arbitrator by the committee have been published, along with an application form. Both can be accessed via this link.

When parties specify that the Centre is to appoint an arbitrator to deal with their dispute, the selection is made by the committee, acting independently from the board of the Centre. The Centre does not maintain a list or panel of arbitrators, so the committee has complete discretion to choose a suitable arbitrator for the dispute from the leading domestic (Scottish) and international arbitrators.  Details of the 13-strong committee can be found via this link.

James Wollfe QC (Axiom Advocates, Edinburgh) will chair the Domestic Subcommittee, and Juliet Blanch (Partner, Weil, Gotshal & Manges, London) will chair the International Subcommittee.

Brandon Malone, chairman of the Centre, commented: “With our new formal arbitral appointment system, public bodies and commercial organisations can rest assured that when they ask the Centre to appoint an arbitrator, they will get the most suitable arbitrator for the job. Along with the commercial advantages of Scottish arbitration which include confidentiality, pragmatism, and restricted appeal procedure, this is another strong reason for Scottish and international businesses to use Scottish arbitration and the Centre as an appointing body.”

Chief executive Andrew Mackenzie added: “The Centre has drawn on the huge domestic and international goodwill it enjoys, to assemble a now expanded independent Arbitral Appointments Committee with global awareness and impeccable credentials. I am particularly delighted to welcome more women to our committee, as the international arbitration community has been discussing the prospect of making arbitration more diverse and inclusive. With our expert committee and new formal arbitral appointment system, the Centre is well placed to make ad hoc appointments in both domestic and international arbitrations.”