THE ADVOCATE 417
VOL. 80 PART 3 MAY 2022
A VIEW FROM
THE CENTRE
By Ariel Solose*
TOWARDS EXPEDITIOUS ARBITRATION: VANIAC’S NEW INTERNATIONAL
COMMERCIAL ARBITRATION RULES
The Vancouver International Arbitration Centre (“VanIAC”) has released
new international arbitration rules (the “New International Rules”) that
institutionalize best practices in international arbitration procedure.
As VanIAC provides dispute resolution services around the world, the
New International Rules provide robust procedures for the arbitration of
commercial disputes regardless of whether the arbitration is governed by
British Columbia’s International Commercial Arbitration Act or is seated in
another jurisdiction. In contrast to VanIAC’s domestic arbitration rules,
which supplement the detailed provisions of British Columbia’s Arbitration
Act for domestic arbitrations seated in British Columbia, the New International
Rules are intended for international arbitrations and domestic arbitrations
seated outside British Columbia.
Highlights of VanIAC’s New International Rules
The New International Rules reflect modern international arbitration practices
and contain procedures aimed at promoting the expeditious resolution
of parties’ disputes. Highlights of the New International Rules include those
described below.
Comprehensive appointment procedures
The New International Rules contain robust procedures for appointing arbitrators
where parties have not prescribed their own appointment procedure.
If parties fail to agree on the selection of a sole arbitrator within 21
days, any party may apply to VanIAC to appoint the sole arbitrator. VanIAC’s
process for appointing a sole arbitrator includes consideration of arbitrators
* Ariel Solose practises arbitration at Blake, Cassels & Graydon LLP and is a member of VanIAC’s Rules Committee.