Designation of Appointing Authority

The UNCITRAL Arbitration Rules entrust to the Secretary-General of the PCA the role of designating an “appointing authority” upon request of a party to arbitration proceedings.

Conditions for Designation

Such a request may be made in the following situations:

1. Under the 1976 version of the UNCITRAL Arbitration Rules:

  • in cases in which there is to be a sole arbitrator, and the parties have not reached agreement on the choice of that arbitrator within the prescribed period of time (Art. 6);
  • in cases in which there are to be three arbitrators, and the respondent does not proceed within the prescribed period of time with the appointment of the arbitrator that the respondent is entitled to appoint (Art. 7, paras. 2 and 3), or the two party-appointed arbitrators do not agree on the choice of the presiding arbitrator within the prescribed period of time (Art. 7, para. 3);
  • where the appointing authority agreed upon refuses to act or fails to appoint the arbitrator within the prescribed period of time (Art. 6, para. 2 or Art. 7, para. 2); or
  • in the event an arbitrator is challenged (Art. 12).

2. Under the 2010 and 2013 versions of the UNCITRAL Arbitration Rules:

  • in the event that the parties have not reached agreement on an appointing authority within 30 days following a proposal of one or more institutions or persons, one of whom would serve as appointing authority (Art. 6, para. 2); or
  • except as referred to in Art. 41, para. 4(b), if the appointing authority refuses to act, or if the appointing authority fails to appoint an arbitrator within 30 days after receiving a party’s request to do so, fails to act within any other period provided by the Rules, or fails to decide on a challenge to an arbitrator within a reasonable time after receiving a party’s request to do so (Art. 6, para. 4).
Further Information

Further information concerning the PCA’s appointing authority activities may be found in the PCA’s Annual Reports, and in a 2006 Report to UNCITRAL regarding the PCA’s activities under the UNCITRAL Arbitration Rules since 1976.

Procedure for Requesting the Designation of an Appointing Authority

Requests for designation of an appointing authority should be directed to:

The Secretary-General
Permanent Court of Arbitration
Peace Palace
Carnegieplein 2
2517 KJ  The Hague
The Netherlands

Tel:  +31 70 302 4165
Fax: +31 70 302 4167
Email: [email protected]

The request should be accompanied by:

  1. A copy of the arbitration clause or agreement establishing the applicability of the UNCITRAL Arbitration Rules;
  2. A copy of the Notice of Arbitration served upon the respondent, as well as the date of such service;
  3. A copy of any response to the Notice of Arbitration;
  4. An indication of the nationalities of the parties;
  5. The names and nationalities of the arbitrators already appointed, if any;
  6. The names of any institutions or persons that the parties had considered selecting as appointing authority but which have been rejected;
  7. A power of attorney evidencing the authority of the person making the request; and
  8. Payment of the non-refundable administrative fee.

The non-refundable administrative fee for the analysis of a request for the designation of an appointing authority by the Secretary-General of the Permanent Court of Arbitration is €3,000, which includes the cost of the designation of an appointing authority if that is the next appropriate step.  The fee is required to be paid in advance and is non-refundable, and should be made to the PCA by bank transfer as follows:

 Bank: ABN Amro Bank N.V.
Gustav Mahlerlaan 10
1082 PP Amsterdam
The Netherlands
Bank Identifier Code (BIC): ABNANL2A
Account number: 0533 5072 27
IBAN: NL23 ABNA 0533 5072 27
Beneficiary: Permanent Court of Arbitration

Please mention the name of the case and party for whom the payment is made as a payment reference on your bank transfer.