Anti-suit Injunctions Issued by Arbitral Tribunals in International Commercial Arbitrations

Abstract

Anti-suit injunction is an order issued by a court or arbitral tribunal that prevents an opposing party to lodge or pursue a dispute before a national court in breach of that agreement. Considering the importance of this injunction in support of the arbitration, the status of injunction issued by arbitral tribunals in international arbitration shall be reviewed. However, since the jurisdiction of the tribunal is subject to the agreement between the parties, there are serious challenges regarding the authority and grounds for issuing this order by arbitral tribunals. The results of the research indicates that, contrary to the anti-suit injunctions issued by national courts, the injunctions issued by arbitral tribunals in international commercial arbitrations are becoming an acceptable procedure. These injunctions are based on arbitration agreements, international and national laws and regulations regarding arbitration. Since the origin of the Anti-Suit Injunction is common law legal system, Iranian legal system and its precedent are alien to such injunction. In addition, the function of Anti-Suit Injunction in Iranian law in the form of provisional measure cannot be justified. Anti-suit injunctions issued by arbitral tribunals have many advantages in the arbitration process such as flexibility, confidentiality, impartiality and the speed of arbitral proceedings.

Keywords

• provisional and interim measures
• breach of arbitration agreements
• enjoining litigants from proceeding
• anti-suit injunction
• commercial arbitration