By Tom & Lisa Feissner
The experienced Planet Depos teams, located at our headquarters in Washington, D.C. and throughout Asia stand ready to help you navigate the issues related to holding your international arbitration in Hong Kong, Singapore, Japan, Korea, or anywhere in the Asia-Pacific region. All you have to decide is the location, and we will help you take care of the rest. There are two factors which attorneys must decide when an international arbitration hearing is to be held: seat and venue. The seat determines which country’s arbitration rules will be followed; the venue is simply the location where the arbitration hearing will be held. While the two often are the same, it is not required, and parties may find it beneficial to venue an arbitration at a neutral location or simply at a location which is mutually convenient for travel.
Bukchon, Seoul by Thomas Feissner
The seat is typically pre-determined by the arbitration clause of the contract at issue in the dispute; however, sometimes the seat is not specified, or there may be flexibility built into the arbitration clause. Currently, Australia, Hong Kong and Singapore are the most favored seats in Asia, while London is a top choice in Europe. Regardless of where the matter is seated, participants are generally free to choose any venue which is deemed mutually agreeable, for reasons of cost, convenience, or neutrality.
The Seoul International Dispute Resolution Center (SIDRC) offers parties a modern, high-tech facility, with built-in videoconferencing equipment, tablets at every seat, projection screens for viewing documents and other evidence, and a ready-to-use simultaneous interpretation setup. The spacious facilities house two hearing rooms, two breakout rooms for parties, and a lounge for arbitrators. The SIDRC is located in Jongno-gu, a truly cross-cultural district in Seoul, home to both major business centers and historic sites such as Changdeok Palace and Jongmyo Shrine. The SIDRC is poised to become one of Asia’s premier venues for international arbitrations.
So whether you decide to venue your next international arbitration in Seoul, Hong Kong, Australia, or anywhere around the world, call Planet Depos at (888) 433-3767 or contact us at international@planetdepos.com.