04 PROFESSIONAL OPPORTUNITIES IN ALTERNATE DISPUTE RESOLUTION (ADR)

PROFESSIONAL OPPORTUNITIES
IN ALTERNATE DISPUTE
RESOLUTION (ADR)
CA. Rajkumar S. Adukia
098200 61049
rajkumarfca@gmail.com

The Chartered Accountant (CA)
• The advancement of the CA profession has its roots
connected to the economic development of the country
• Today’s CAs are key players in business, industry and
financial services in India and around the world.
• The increasing awareness and demands of society is
compelling more organisations to seek professional help to
cater to diverse needs.
• From healthcare to software, its hard to find any business
without the presence of CAs.
• However new opportunities keep emerging and it is wise
to explore further.
rajkumarfcasubscribe@yahoogroups.com

Professional Opportunities
• S. 2 (2) (iv) of the Chartered Accountants’ Act, 1949 read
with Regulation 191 of the Chartered Accountants’
Regulations, 1988 specifically provides that a Chartered
Accountant in his professional capacity is allowed to act as
an Arbitrator.
• Chartered Accountants with their objective, independent
and balanced in their approach to a problem can be ideally
placed to act as arbitrators or conciliators and play a
mediator’s role in resolving conflict situations between
partners, business associates, employers and employees etc

As an Arbitrator
• A Chartered Accountant is required to maintain a high
degree of professional competence and technical standard.
He is bound by the code of conduct framed by the Institute
of Chartered Accountants of India.
• There are a large number of organisations, national as well
as international, which maintain a panel of arbitrators.
• Indian Council of Arbitration, a specialized arbitral body,
sponsored by Government of India recognise Chartered
Accountants as arbitrators. Clause III (b) of the “broad
categories of qualification and experience for
empanelment as an arbitrator” indicate that Chartered
Accountants having 15 years of professional experience
are eligible for empanelment as an arbitrator.

As a Counsel for the client
• A Chartered Accountant normally represents the
cases of his clients before various authorities
including the Tribunals, Company Law Benches,
SEBI, RBI etc. He can specialize in arbitration
matters particularly those connected with breach
of contracts, insurance claims, loss of profit,
securities fraud, commercial disputes, rights of
properties, lease transactions etc. and represent his
clients in Arbitration proceedings.

As an Expert
• Under Sec 26(1) of the Arbitration and
Conciliation Act, 1996 the Arbitral Tribunal may
appoint expert/s to report on any specific issue to
be determined by it.
• A CA can help the arbitral tribunal in the capacity
of an expert in matters relating to accounts,
commercial transactions, lease transactions etc
where he has sufficient domain knowledge

In Other Capacity
• A Chartered Accountant can also advise the client
whether a particular case is arbitrable or not. In
case of arbitrable disputes, he can provide various
services like, advising the clients on selection of
arbitrator, initiating the arbitral proceedings,
preparation of statement of claims or defence,
pleadings etc. He can help in deciding which ADR
process the client should choose. After enough
experience in arbitration and other ADR methods,
he can also play an important role in solving the
pending disputes of his clients by identifying those
rajkumarfcacases that are suitable for resolution through ADR.
subscribe@yahoogroups.com

Role under Arbitration &
Conciliation Act, 1996
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•

Drafting of Arbitration Agreement
Representing either of the party (plainant/defendant) to
the dispute in the arbitral proceedings
Assisting Arbitrator in drafting arbitral award
Assisting both parties to go to Court of Law
Assisting in preparing submissions to arbitrator
Member of Arbitral Tribunal
Assisting Trade and Industry associations in setting up
Alternate Dispute Redressal (ADR) mechanism.
Acting as arbitrator where required. In some legislations,
redressal of dispute or particular kind of disputes are
mandatorily to be resolved through Arbitration.

Contd…
• Acting as arbitrator in Micro and Small Enterprises
Facilitation Council u/s 18 of the Micro, Small and
Medium Enterprises Development Act, 2006.
• In Clause 14 of First Schedule to the Limited Liability
Partnership Act 2008 - All disputes between the partners
arising out of the limited liability partnership agreement
which cannot be resolved in terms of such agreement shall
be referred for arbitration as per the provisions of the
Arbitration and Conciliation Act, 1996.
• Assisting Indian Judiciary u/s section 89 of Code of Civil
Procedure 1908, where there is possibility of settling of
dispute through arbitration
• Acting as Arbitrator in different countries

Role in International Commercial
Arbitration (ICA)
• To help clients in the process of Selecting an Arbitration
Institution.
• Issues to consider at the time of selection of an Arbitration
Institution include:
· History of the institution's administration of
international arbitrations.
· Experience in handling disputes
· Selection of Arbitrators
· Procedures adopted by the Institution
· Cost of the Institution
· Services of the Institutions Staff

Contd…
• Act as arbitrator for international commercial disputes
• Determining the procedural law to be applied
• Draft commercial trade agreements in consonance with the
principles of Alternative Dispute Resolution
• Draft Arbitration clauses in international contracts.
• Standard Arbitration Clauses are of the Following Types:
– a.
ICC Arbitration Clause
– b.
AAA Arbitration Clause
– c.
London Court Arbitration Clause
– d.
Stockholm Chamber Arbitration Clause
– e.
Ad Hoc Arbitration Clause

Contd…
• Drafting of a proper arbitration agreement
considering the arbitration rules promulgated by
various international institutions
• Parties may either develop their own rules or
select established arbitration rules to govern the
arbitration. Parties may use the rules of an
arbitration institution without submitting the
dispute to that institution.

Contd…
• Unless parties select an arbitration institution that
requires use of its own rules, parties may use the
rules of some major International Institutions.
Major International Arbitration Rules are:
–
–
–
–

a. UNCITRAL Arbitration Rules
b. AAA Arbitration Rules
c. ICC Arbitration Rules
d. London Court Arbitration Rules


Contd…
• Where the parties select the arbitration format and
structure without using an arbitration institution
(Ad Hoc Arbitration) - CA should ensure:
• Parties specify in the arbitration clause all aspects of
the arbitration, including applicable law, rules under
which the arbitration will be carried out, the number
of arbitrators, the method for selecting the
arbitrator(s), the language in which the arbitration
will be conducted and the place of arbitration.

Dispute Resolution
• The Oxford Dictionary defines the term ‘Dispute’
as an argument or a disagreement between two
people, groups or countries.
• A dispute must be resolved. Unresolved disputes
in business hinder the smooth flow and future
growth not only of domestic trade but also of
international trade.
• A dispute is normally resolved by way of
– Litigation; or
– Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) mechanism.

Litigation
• In litigation a dispute is referred to a court
of Law.
• Litigation is expensive, time consuming and
full of complexities.
• Besides, the constant rise in the costs of
litigation coupled with time delays
continues to plague the litigants.

Alternate Dispute Resolution
(ADR)
• Alternate or Alternative Dispute Resolution
("ADR") refers to any means of settling disputes
outside of the courtroom.
• ADR includes dispute resolution processes and
techniques that act as a means for disagreeing
parties to come to an agreement short of litigation.


Forms of ADR
• Negotiation - where interested parties resolve disputes,
agree upon courses of action, bargain for individual or
collective advantage, and/or attempt to craft outcomes
which serve their mutual interests.
• Mediation - where a third party attempts to arrange a
settlement between the two sides.
• Conciliation - the disputing parties resolve their disputes
with the help of one or more conciliators. The settlement
agreement reached by the parties and authenticated by the
conciliator is binding upon the parties
• Arbitration - disagreeing parties agree to be bound by the
decision of an independent third party

The Code of Civil Procedure
1908
• The legislature by the Code of Civil Procedure
(Amendment) Act, 1999, amended section 89 of the CPC
with effect from 1.7.2002 to promote alternative methods
of dispute resolution.
• Section 89(1) of the Code of Civil Procedure
(Amendment) Act, 1999- Settlement of disputes outside
the court –
Where it appears to the court that there exist elements of a
settlement which maybe acceptable to the parties, the court
shall formulate the terms of settlement and give it to the
parties for their observations and after receiving the
observations of the parties, the court may reformulate the
terms of a possible settlement and refer the same for —

Contd….
1) Arbitration
2) Conciliation
3) Judicial settlement including settlement
through Lok Adalat or
4) Mediation


Where a dispute has been
referred
• For arbitration or conciliation - the provisions of
the Arbitration and Conciliation Act, 1996 shall
apply as if the proceedings for arbitration or
conciliation were referred for settlement under the
provision of that Act;
• To Lok Adalat - the court shall refer the same to
the Lok Adalat in accordance with the provisions
of sub-section (1) of section 20 of the Legal
Services Authority Act, 1987 and all other
provision of that Act shall apply in respect of the
dispute so referred to the Lok Adalat;

Contd…
• For Judicial settlement - the court shall refer the
same to a suitable institution or person and such
institution or person shall be deemed to be a Lok
Adalat and all the provisions of the Legal Services
Authority Act, 1987 shall apply as if the dispute
were referred to a Lok Adalat under the provisions
of that Act;
• For Mediation - the court shall effect a
compromise between the parties and shall follow
such procedure as maybe prescribed.

Arbitration
• Arbitration is a process of ADR in which a neutral
third party (called the arbitrator) renders a
decision after a hearing at which both parties have
an opportunity to be heard. It is the means by
which parties to a dispute get the same settled
through the intervention of a third person, but
without having recourse to court of law.
• Section 2(1)(a) of the Arbitration and Conciliation
Act, 1996 defines "arbitration“ as - means any
arbitration whether or not administered by
permanent arbitral institution;

International Commercial
Arbitration
• International Commercial Arbitration is one of the several
forms of ADR for International Commercial Agreements.
• International Arbitration in the context of India is
arbitration where at least one of the parties is an individual
national of or habitually resident in a country other than
India or a body corporate incorporated outside India or a
company or an Association or a Body of Individuals
whose central management and control is exercised from
out of India or by a Government of a Foreign Country.


Contd….
• Section 2(1)(f) of the Arbitration and Conciliation Act,
1996 Act, defines “International commercial arbitration”
as an arbitration relating to disputes arising out of legal
relationships, whether contractual or not, considered as
commercial under the law in force in India and where at
least one of the parties is• (i) An individual who is a national of, or habitually
resident in, any country other than India; or
• (ii) A body corporate which is in corporate in any country
other than India; or
• (iii) A company or an association or a body of individuals
whose central management and control is exercised in any
country other than India;rajkumarfcaor
•

Why Arbitration?
• " I realised that the true function of a lawyer was to unite
parties... A large part of my time during the 20 years of my
practice as a lawyer was occupied in bringing about
private compromises of hundreds of cases. I lost nothing
thereby - not even money, certainly not my soul.“ –
Mahatma Gandhi
• "Discourage litigation. Persuade your neighbours to
compromise whenever you can . . . the nominal winner is
often a real loser in fees, in expenses, and waste of time." Abraham Lincoln
• “Our litigation system is too costly, too painful, too
destructive, too inefficient for a truly civilised people.” Chief Justice Warren Burger of US Supreme Court

How does Arbitration Work
• Arbitration procedures are very similar to court.
The only difference being that there are no hurdles
of the strict rules of procedure or law of evidence,
yet legally binding. After the claim is filed and the
opposite side responds; the parties exchange
information relevant to the case; the arbitrator
hears both sides, studies the evidence, and decides
the case.
• Arbitration often is contractual: two parties agree
to use arbitration to resolve a dispute. The parties
agree on what basis they want the arbitrator to
rajkumarfcadecide the case. subscribe@yahoogroups.com

What can be referred to
Arbitration
• Generally speaking, all disputes of a civil nature
or quasi-civil nature, which can be decided by a
civil court, can be referred to arbitration.
• It is necessary that there is a defined legal
relationship between persons, companies,
association of persons, body of individuals etc.
created or permitted by law, before a reference can
be made to arbitration.
• However, the relationship may not be a
contractual one. A dispute may arise out of quasi
contracts; .e.g., the division of family property.
The same may be validly referred to Arbitration.

What cannot be referred to
Arbitration
• As per general practice, matters involving moral
questions or questions of public law cannot be
resolved by arbitration.
• For instance, the following matters are not referred
to arbitration:
– Matrimonial matters, like divorce or maintenance;
– Insolvency matters, like declaring a person as an
insolvent;
– Criminal offences;
– Dissolution or winding up of a company.
However, the above is not an exhaustive list.

Contd…
• Section 2(3) of the Arbitration and Conciliation
Act 1996 provides that: — This part shall not
affect another law for the time being in force by
virtue of which certain disputes may not be
submitted to arbitration.
• Thus if a matter is governed by any other law
which excludes reference to Arbitration, this Act
will not apply. Since in those cases, the law has
given precise jurisdiction to specified courts or
tribunals only and those cases cannot be decided
through the mechanism of Arbitration

Sources of Arbitration Law
• States regulate arbitration through a variety
of laws. The main body of law applicable to
arbitration is normally contained either in
the national Private International Law Act
(as is the case in Switzerland) or in a
separate law on arbitration (as is the case in
England). In addition to this, a number of
national procedural laws may also contain
provisions relating to arbitration.

International Instruments on
Arbitration Law
• By far the most important international instrument on
arbitration law is the 1958 New York Convention on
Recognition and Enforcement of Foreign Arbitral Awards.
• Some other relevant international instruments are:
– The Geneva Protocol of 1923
– The Geneva Convention of 1927
– The European Convention of 1961
– The Washington Convention of 1965 (governing
settlement of international investment disputes)
– The UNCITRAL Model Law (providing a model for a
national law of arbitration)
– The UNCITRAL Model Rules (providing a set of rules
for an ad hoc arbitration)

United Nations Commission on
International Trade Law
(UNCITRAL)
• UNCITRAL was established by The General Assembly
1966 ( Resolution 2205(XXI) of 17 December 1966) as a
subsidiary body of The General Assembly of the United
Nations.
• It was established with the purpose of removing obstacles
in the flow of International Trade.
• In regard to its Mandate, UNCITRAL has prepared a wide
range of conventions, model laws and other instruments
dealing with the substantive law that governs trade
transactions or other aspects of business law which have
an impact on International Trade.
• At present, India is a member of UNCITRAL and its
membership expires in 2016

Law regulating Arbitration in
India
• The statutory provisions on arbitration are
contained in the Arbitration and Conciliation Act,
1996
• The Arbitration and Conciliation Act,1996 came
into force with effect from 25th January 1996. The
Act of 1996 was enacted to update the Law of
Arbitration in India on the lines of the United
Nations Commission on International Trade Law
(UNCITRAL) Model Law on International
Commercial Arbitration.

Contd…
• Before the enactment of the Arbitration and Conciliation
Act 1996, statutory provisions on arbitration were
contained in three different enactments:
– the Arbitration Act, 1940,
– the Arbitration (Protocol & Convention) Act, 1937; and
– the Foreign Awards ( Recognition & Enforcement) Act,
1961.
– Domestic arbitrations were conducted under the 1940
Act while the other two acts dealt with foreign awards.

Contd…
• The Arbitration and Conciliation Act, 1996 has
repealed these three Acts and consolidated and
amended the law relating to domestic arbitration,
international commercial arbitration and
enforcement of foreign arbitral awards on the
basis of the Model Law on International
Commercial Arbitration adopted by the United
Nations Commissions on International Trade Law.

The Arbitration and Conciliation
Act, 1996
• The 1996 Act contains 86 sections besides the preamble
and three Schedules.
• The Act is divided into four parts.
– Part I - contains general provisions on arbitration.
– Part II - deals with enforcement of certain foreign
awards.
– Part III - deals with conciliation and.
– Part IV - contains some supplementary provisions.
• The three schedules reproduce the texts of Geneva
Convention on the execution of Foreign Arbitral Awards,
1927, the Geneva Protocol on Arbitration Clause, 1923
and the New York Convention on the Recognition and
Enforcement of Foreign Arbitral Awards, 1958.

Types of Arbitration
• Ad hoc Arbitration - An arbitration proceeding conducted
without recourse to an institution is commonly known as
“Ad hoc Arbitration”. It may be: —
– Domestic Arbitration
– International Arbitration
– Foreign Arbitration
• Institutional Arbitration - An institutional arbitration is one
in which a specialized institution intervenes and assumes
the functions of aiding and administering the arbitral
process, as provided by the rules of that institution. It is
pertinent to note that these institutions do not arbitrate the
dispute, it is the arbitrators who arbitrate, and only the
rajkumarfcarules of the institution apply.

Contd…
• There are number of national and international
organisations set up with the main object of
settling commercial disputes by way of Arbitration
and other Alternative Dispute Resolution
mechanism. These organisations lay down rules
for the conduct of arbitration. These rules,
however, cannot override the Act. These
organisations handle the arbitration cases of the
parties and provide valuable services like
administrative assistance, consultancy and
recommending names of arbitrators from the panel
maintained by them rajkumarfcasubscribe@yahoogroups.com

Arbitration Agreement
• As per section 2(b), an “Arbitration agreement” means an
agreement referred to in section 7 of the Act
• An Arbitration Agreement is the very foundation on which
the whole arbitration procedure rests. If there is no valid
Arbitration Agreement, there can’t be a valid arbitration.
• An Arbitration Agreement need not be in a particular form.
What is important is that there should be an intention of
the parties to refer the dispute to Arbitration.
• An Arbitration Agreement maybe in the form of an
arbitration clause in a contract or in the form of a separate
agreement.
• An Arbitration Agreement shall be in writing.

Arbitration Agreement – A
Contract
• An Arbitration Agreement is a contract and it must satisfy
all the essential elements of a contract.
• As per the Contract Act, 1872, an agreement between two
parties which is enforceable by law is a contract. Section
11 of the Contract Act provides that all agreements are
contract if they are:—
– made by the “Free Consent” of parties competent to
contract
– for a Lawful Consideration and with Lawful objects,
and
– are not expressly declared to be void.

Contd…
• Free Consent:Means consent not caused by coercion,
undue influence, fraud, misrepresentation or mistake.
• Competent to contract:Every person is competent to
contract who is of the age of majority and of sound mind
and not disqualified from contracting by any law.
• Lawful consideration:It should not defeat the provision of
any law, and lawful objects: involve injury to other person
or property, be immoral or opposed to public policy.


Arbitral Tribunal
• As per Section 2(1)(d) - arbitral tribunal" means a
sole arbitrator or a panel of arbitrators;
• The parties are free to determine the number of
arbitrators, provided that such number shall not be
an even number.Failing the determination the
arbitral tribunal shall consist of a sole arbitrator
• A person of any nationality may be an arbitrator,
unless otherwise agreed by the parties.

Duties and Responsibilities of an
Arbitrator
• Any person can be appointed as an arbitrator. No
qualifications are prescribed. It is fundamental that
an arbitrator act fairly. The Arbitration Act
requires the arbitrator to be impartial and
independent, and adhere to the rules of natural
justice during the procedure and in making the
award. It is important for the person appointed to
have a good knowledge of the law and practice of
arbitration.

Arbitral Award
• The document that gives and explains the decision(s) of an
arbitrator is called an award.
• An award is a decision of the arbitrators in writing duly
signed by them.
• An award is binding on both parties.
• An arbitrator has authority to issue interim, partial and
final awards.
• As per section 2(1)(c) of the Act “Arbitral Award”
includes an interim award.
• Having issued a final award, the arbitrator has no further
duty or authority upon the arbitration, except for the right
to correct any minor slips.

Proposed Amendments to the
Arbitration and Conciliation Act
1996

• In the year 2001, the Law Commission of India undertook
a comprehensive review of the working of the Arbitration
and Conciliation Act, 1996 and recommended many
amendments to the Act in its 176th Report submitted to the
Government.
• The Government after considering the recommendations of
the Report and after consulting the State Governments and
certain institutions, decided to accept almost all the
recommendations.
• Accordingly the Arbitration and Conciliation
(Amendment) Bill 2003 was introduced in Rajya Sabha on
22nd December, 2003.

Contd…
• In July 2004, Government constituted a Committee under
the Chairmanship of Justice Dr.B.P.Saraf to make in-depth
study of the implications of the recommendations of the
Law Commission made in its 176th Report and all aspects
relating to the Arbitration and Conciliation (Amendment)
Bill, 2003.
• The Bill was then referred to the Departmental Related
Standing Committee on Personnel, Public Grievances,
Law and Justice for examination and report. The said
Committee after taking oral evidence of eminent advocates
and the representatives from trade and industry, Public
Sector Undertakings, representatives of this Department,
submitted its report to the Houses of Parliament on 4th
rajkumarfcaAugust, 2005.

Contd…
• In view of the large number of amendments
recommended by the Committee and
because many provisions of the Bill were
contentious, the said Bill was withdrawn
from the Rajya Sabha.
• A fresh legislation may be brought after
considering the recommendations of the
Committee.

Other Updates
• Amendments to the Arbitration & Conciliation Act, 1996 –
A Consultation Paper has been published by the Ministry
of Law & Justice, Government of India on 8th April 2010.
• The Hon’ble Supreme Court of India has held in “Union of
India v. Singh Builders Syndicate” (2009), that it is
necessary to find an urgent solution for the problem to
save arbitration from the arbitration cost and opined that
Institutional arbitration has provided a solution, as the
Arbitrators' fees is not fixed by the Arbitrators themselves
on case to case basis, but is governed by a uniform rate
prescribed by the institution under whose aegis the
Arbitration is held

Contd…
• The Hon'ble Supreme Court of India has in the landmark
decision "Salem Advocate Bar Association, Tamil Nadu v.
Union of India" (2005) directed that all courts shall direct
parties to alternative dispute resolution methods like
arbitration, conciliation, judicial settlement or mediation.
The draft "Civil Procedure Alternative Dispute Resolution
and Mediation Rules 2003" was also considered by the
Supreme Court, for enactment by respective High Courts.
Direction was issued to all High Courts, Central
Government and State Governments for expeditious
follow-up action.

Related Websites
• Indian Council of arbitration:
http://www.ficci.com/icanet/
• Indian Institute of Arbitration & Mediation:
http://www.arbitrationindia.com/
• The International Centre for Alternative Disputes
Resolution:
http://www.icadr.org/
• Permanent Court of Arbitration:
http://www.pca-cpa.org
• United Nations Commission on International Trade Law:
http://www.uncitral.org
• International Chamber of Commerce
rajkumarfcahttp://www.icc.orgsubscribe@yahoogroups.com

Key to Effectiveness
• Commitment
– If you think you can or think you cannot you are
probably right-Henry Ford
• Create Partnership
– A single arrow is easily broken but not ten in a bundle
–Japanese proverb
• Be responsible
– Believe that every right implies a responsibility;every
opportunity , an obligation; every possession, a duty
• Decide
– A man with feet in two boats falls into the riverChinese proverb

Contd…
• Be Honest
- The truth is inconvertible ;Panic may resent it:
ignorance may deride it; malice may distort it; but there it
is - Sir Winston Churchill
• Express Support
- One who never asks either knows everything or
nothing - Malcolm Forbes
• Take risks
- Life is either a daring adventure or nothing at all Helen Keller

Questions/ Suggestions/
Comments???


04 PROFESSIONAL OPPORTUNITIES IN ALTERNATE DISPUTE RESOLUTION (ADR)

More Related Content

What's hot (20)

Viewers also liked (19)

Similar to 04 PROFESSIONAL OPPORTUNITIES IN ALTERNATE DISPUTE RESOLUTION (ADR) (20)

More from CA. (Dr.) Rajkumar Adukia (20)

Recently uploaded (20)

04 PROFESSIONAL OPPORTUNITIES IN ALTERNATE DISPUTE RESOLUTION (ADR)