Three Days Training Series for Judges and the AMCA's Arbitrators

On December 8, the Arbitration and Mediation Center of Armenia launched a new series of training courses designed for judges and the Center’s arbitrators. Opening remarks were delivered by Tigran Dadunts, Director of the Legislation Development Center Foundation, one of the founding bodies of the Center, who presented the importance of the field from the perspective of the development of the justice system. Representatives of the Arbitration and Mediation Center of Armenia introduced the Center’s role, activities, and the work carried out to date. The participants also introduced themselves and shared their expectations regarding the training course.

During the second and third days of the programme, participants were introduced to key issues in arbitration, international practice, as well as the Center’s rules and functions. The second day of the event was opened by Tatevik Matinyan, Director of the Arbitration and Mediation Center of Armenia, who presented the Center’s structure, safeguards of independence, role, work accomplished, and the importance of the event. This was followed by presentations by Andrea Carlevaris, Member of the Arbitration Council of the Center and President of the Italian Arbitration Association, and Hayk Kupelyants, Member of the Arbitration Council, PhD in Law, and Lecturer at King’s College London. Andrea Carlevaris presented the role of state courts in arbitral proceedings, the concept and importance of international arbitration, the nature of commercial and investment arbitration, as well as the methods and procedures of judicial assistance to arbitration. He also addressed the role of permanent arbitral institutions, presenting the functions of such centers, including the Arbitration and Mediation Center of Armenia, the scope of work with the parties and the arbitral tribunal, as well as the procedure for appointing arbitrators and examining challenges raised against them. In the final lecture of the day, Hayk Kupelyants spoke on the topic “Recognition and Enforcement of Arbitral Awards.” At the request of the participating judges and arbitrators, he specifically addressed the grounds and procedure for setting aside an arbitral award on the basis of public policy, presenting what public policy is, in which cases it applies, and what kind of international practice has developed around this issue. The lecture concluded with a discussion of issues related to the topic and questions raised by the participants.

The third day of the event began with a presentation of the rules of the Arbitration and Mediation Center of Armenia. Lilit Petrosyan, Deputy Director of the Center, presented the structure of the rules, as well as arbitral proceedings conducted on their basis, starting from the submission of a request for arbitration to the Center and ending with the rendering of an arbitral award. The discussion also covered the calculation and payment of arbitration fees, and the presentation was accompanied by a question-and-answer session and productive discussion. Tatevik Matinyan noted that the Center’s activities are aimed exclusively at implementing document circulation through an online platform, ensuring efficiency, transparency, and innovation.

During the day, Aida Avanesyan, Member of the Arbitration Council and Doctor of Law specializing in international law, delivered a lecture on the topic “Disputes Examined through Arbitration.” She presented issues related to arbitrability, in particular the categories of disputes that may be examined through arbitration, highlighting both international practice and local approaches. Questions relating to challenges to the jurisdiction of the arbitral tribunal, as well as the law applicable to questions of jurisdiction, also became the subject of discussion. Participants addressed a number of questions to the speaker, which also led to discussion of relevant precedents and legislative issues. The series of lectures concluded with a presentation by Aram Orbelyan, Managing Partner of Concern Dialog Law Firm, who addressed the grounds for setting aside arbitral awards and the related challenges. His presentation included a detailed discussion of issues relating to written communication in arbitral proceedings, the formation of the arbitral tribunal, the validity of arbitration agreements, as well as the recognition and enforcement of arbitral awards. The event became an important professional platform for discussing current issues in arbitration, exchanging experience, and strengthening professional cooperation.