An Arbitrator‘s Power To Decide ex aquo et bono
A Sleeping Beauty?
Austrian/Polish Twin Conference
Martin Platte
• ex aequo et bono: according to what is just and good
• aequitas: equity, fairness, natural justice
• aequitas vs summum ius („strict law“)
• amiable compositeur
Austrian/Polish Twin Conference
Martin Platte
• Commercial Arbitration
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European Convention
Model Law
National Laws
Arbitration Rules
• Public Int‘l Law / Investment arbitration
 ICJ
 ICSID
Austrian/Polish Twin Conference
Martin Platte
• ex aequo et bono vs amiable compositeur
– authority to decide detached from legal rules
– authority to mitigate inequitable effects of law
• meaningful or artificial distinction?
• method vs result
Austrian/Polish Twin Conference
Martin Platte
• only possible with express consent of parties
• intent of parties
• not: lex mercatoria
• choice of lex mercatoria ≠ ex aequo et bono
Austrian/Polish Twin Conference
Martin Platte
Limitations of power to decide ex aequo et bono
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international public policy
public policy of seat of arbitration / place of enforcement
decisions regarding jurisdiction
procedural rules
mandatory rules (?)
contract adaptation (?)
award must be reasoned
relevant facts must be established
Austrian/Polish Twin Conference
Martin Platte
Examples of decisions ex aequo et bono
 time-barred claims
 notice periods
 penalty clauses
 rules of evidence
 quantum of damages
Austrian/Polish Twin Conference
Martin Platte
Thank you for your attention!
Austrian/Polish Twin Conference
Martin Platte