The Extension of the Arbitration Clause to Non-Signatories: Lessons from Comparative Law

Abstract

Introduction: is it possible for a legal entity or individual who has not signed a contract containing the arbitration clause to take precedence of initiating arbitration against the signatory legal entity or individual, or vice versa, to be involved in the legal proceedings by other persons? The paper discusses this issue and examines it from the point of view of several theories, within the framework of comparative law, accepted for the extension of the arbitration clause to non-signatories. The purpose of the research is achieved by solving a number of tasks: to identify recurrent cases when an arbitration agreement was extended to a party that did not formally sign any arbitration agreement; to analyze the scenarios where such extension was accepted in different jurisdictions, as well as the facts and legal basis for this. Methodology: the paper uses a comparative method of analyzing the legal framework and court decisions, and the arbitral awards from different jurisdictions allow us to understand the degree of acceptability of the theories related to the extension of the arbitration clause to non-signatories. The results of the research can be used to determine the key circumstances of arbitration – whether the non-signatory party can be included in the arbitration either being initiated or already commenced. Conclusions: although there are various legal theories that have created a number of possibilities for extending the arbitration clause, such theories have a greater or lesser degree of acceptance depending on the arbitration law adopted by each country, the agreement of the parties, the arbitration rules chosen by the parties, the applicable law to the contract and, in some cases, the arbitration law at the legal venue. In addition, it will be necessary to analyze whether the non-signatory party is actually a party to the arbitration agreement, the relationship on the merits of the dispute, the interest and participation in the performance of the contract, and the application of the principle of good faith.