This chapter outlines the conduct of the tribunal and the parties during arbitration proceedings. In general, an arbitral tribunal must conduct the arbitration in accordance with the procedure agreed by the parties. If it fails to do so, the award may be set aside, or refused recognition and enforcement. However, the freedom of the parties to dictate the procedure to be followed in an international arbitration is not unrestricted. The procedure must comply with any mandatory rules and public policy requirements of the law of the juridical seat of the arbitration. It must also take into account the provisions of the international rules on arbitration, such as those of the ICC, which aim to ensure that arbitral proceedings are conducted fairly. Accordingly, a balance must be struck between the parties’ wishes concerning the procedure to be followed and any overriding requirements of the legal regime that governs the arbitration.
