A COMPREHENSIVE ANALYSIS OF PARTY AUTONOMY IN INTERNATIONAL COMMERCIAL ARBITRATION AGREEMENTS
Keywords:
Arbitral Seat, Commercial Arbitration, Enforceability, International Commercial Law, Jurisdiction Selection, New York Convention, Party Autonomy, Procedural FlexibilityAbstract
Party autonomy constitutes the foundational principle upon which international commercial arbitration is constructed. This article presents a systematic and comparative analysis of party autonomy across three critical dimensions: the selection of arbitral jurisdiction and seat, the exercise of procedural flexibility in arbitration design, and the multifaceted enforceability challenges that parties encounter in an increasingly fragmented global legal landscape. Drawing on empirical data from major arbitral institutions spanning 2010-2023, comparative analysis of arbitration statutes from eight jurisdictions, and examination of landmark jurisprudence from courts across common law, civil law, and mixed legal systems, this study identifies and critically evaluates the structural tensions inherent in the application of party autonomy. The findings reveal that while procedural deference to party will has expanded substantially in pro-arbitration jurisdictions, enforcement remains subject to significant variability, particularly regarding public policy exceptions, arbitrability limitations, and due process constraints. The article concludes with a normative framework for rationalising party autonomy across jurisdictions and proposes targeted legislative and institutional reforms.
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Copyright (c) 2026 Dr. Khurram Baig, Waqas Ahmad, Zainab Kausar, Seemin Saeed (Author)
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