Restrictions of Party Autonomy in Choice Procedural Law of International Commercial Arbitration

Nowadays, party autonomy in determination of arbitration procedural law becomes a guiding principle in international commercial arbitration. The principle is recognized not only by national laws, but also by international institutions’ rules and provisions. In fact, when the parties choose the arbitration mechanism as a dispute resolution method, they enjoy wide freedom to determine the procedural law which is followed by arbitrators. But absolute freedom for parties will breach the due process of arbitration and will also violate public policy. So they are not completely free to eliminate a system of law or certain elements of a system of law. Actually their freedom is limited to observing mandatory rules of the seat of arbitration and the place of enforcing of arbitral award. Also, parties have to adhere to the principles of natural justice to protect the public policy. Additionally, after beginning of arbitration, party autonomy has some limitations which bound parties to get arbitrators consent for change of arbitral procedure. Besides, arbitral tribunal has the discretion to change what the parties have agreed about arbitration procedural law.