GLOSSARY
jurisdiction and applicable law definition
What does jurisdiction and applicable law mean?
jurisdiction (sometimes referred to as substantive jurisdiction, including under the AA 1996) is an important and frequently encountered concept in
arbitration, which encompasses issues such as whether the tribunal has, under the relevant
arbitration agreement and any applicable laws/rules, the authority to determine the relevant dispute. In arbitration it is generally established in national laws (eg AA 1996, s 30(1)) and arbitration rules that the arbitral tribunal should be able to rule on whether it has jurisdiction to determine the dispute referred to it鈥攖his is often referred to as the principle of kompetenz-kompetenz (or competence-competence). However, the tribunal鈥檚 determination of its own jurisdiction is not generally considered absolute. If the tribunal lacks jurisdiction (for example, the arbitration agreement was invalid or the tribunal was improperly constituted), this may provide grounds to object to the tribunal鈥檚 authority to preside over the arbitration, which is typically done during the proceedings themselves, and may also be the subject of set-aside or contested proceedings for recognition and enforcement. As for applicable law, what law applies to, or governs, the arbitration
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