6 The Arbitral Award
This concluding chapter examines the arbitral award given at the outcome of the arbitration proceedings. It describes the different ways German arbitration law resolves the dispute — by decision of the arbitral tribunal and by settlement of the parties — and the rules which the arbitral tribunal applies when deciding on the merits and costs. Traditionally, arbitration is characterized by, on the one hand, largely flexible arbitral proceedings and, on the other hand, an outcome, the award that not only is tantamount to a state court judgment but also is equipped with restricted remedies and facilitated means of enforcement both domestically and internationally. In conformity with German court tradition, arbitral tribunals in Germany often encourage the parties to consider making a settlement. To facilitate enforcement of the terms of any such settlement, it may be recorded by the arbitral tribunal in the form of an award on agreed terms.