The Arbitration-Litigation Relationship in Transnational Dispute Resolution: Empirical Insights from the U.S. Federal Courts

World Arbitration & Mediation Review, Vol. 2, p. 39, 2009

46 Pages Posted: 11 Jun 2009

See all articles by Christopher A. Whytock

Christopher A. Whytock

University of California, Irvine, School of Law

Date Written: June 10, 2009

Abstract

This Article explores two dimensions of the relationship between transnational arbitration and litigation. First, what is the relationship between arbitration and litigation as alternative methods of transnational dispute resolution? Some scholars argue that arbitration has largely replaced litigation as a method of transnational dispute resolution; but others suggest that this view may overestimate the ascendance of arbitration and underestimate the continued importance of litigation. Second, what is the role of domestic courts in the transnational arbitration system? While some observers argue that transnational arbitration can operate independently from domestic legal institutions, others emphasize arbitration’s reliance on domestic courts, especially for enforcement.

This Article attempts to shed empirical light on both dimensions of the arbitration-litigation relationship in transnational dispute resolution. To do so, it analyzes existing data on transnational litigation and arbitration rates, and an original dataset of 199 U.S. federal court decisions involving arbitral awards covered by the New York Convention on the Recognition and Enforcement of Foreign Arbitral Awards. The results confirm that transnational litigation rates have been declining while transnational arbitration rates have been increasing; but it also shows that litigation continues to be a widely used method of transnational dispute resolution, even in contract disputes. The results also suggest that there is considerable post-award judicial involvement in the transnational arbitration process. Although U.S. federal courts appear to enforce arbitral awards more often than not, the evidence suggests that enforcement rates might be lower than widely believed. This may be discouraging from the perspective of one important arbitral value - the finality of awards - but it may be encouraging from the perspective of judicial monitoring of the integrity of the transnational arbitration system.

Keywords: International Litigation, Transnational Litigation, International Arbitration, Transnational Arbitration, Arbitration, Litigation, International Dispute Resolution, Transnational Dispute Resolution, Dispute Resolution, New York Convention, Empirical Legal Studies

Suggested Citation

Whytock, Christopher A., The Arbitration-Litigation Relationship in Transnational Dispute Resolution: Empirical Insights from the U.S. Federal Courts (June 10, 2009). World Arbitration & Mediation Review, Vol. 2, p. 39, 2009, Available at SSRN: https://ssrn.com/abstract=1417627

Christopher A. Whytock (Contact Author)

University of California, Irvine, School of Law ( email )

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Irvine, CA 92697-8000
United States
(949) 824-0496 (Phone)

HOME PAGE: http://www.law.uci.edu

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