Time Limits and Extensions of Time Limits – Additional Facility Arbitration (2022 Rules)

The Tribunal and the parties have a duty to conduct the proceeding in good faith and in an expeditious and cost-effective manner (Additional Facility Arbitration Rule 11). This duty is supported by other provisions in the Arbitration Rules, e.g., with regard to time limits applicable to the parties and to the Tribunal.

Time Limits Applicable to the Parties

The Tribunal (or the Secretary-General for certain procedures if there is no Tribunal) fixes time limits for the various steps in the proceeding after consulting the parties (Additional Facility Arbitration Rule 18). The procedural calendar is typically established at the first session.

In addition, some time limits applicable to the parties are prescribed by the Additional Facility Arbitration Rules.

Time Limits Applicable to Parties Prescribed by the Additional Facility Arbitration Rules

Type of Request/
Submission/Notice/
Agreement

Time Limit

AF Arbitration Rule

Notice of Third-party Funding

 

Upon registration or immediately upon concluding a third-party funding arrangement after registration

 

23(1) & (2)

 

Agreement on Method of Appointment

 

Within 45 days after the date of registration

24(2)

 

Request for the Secretary-General to appoint missing arbitrators

90 days after the date of registration

26(1)

Proposal for Disqualification of an Arbitrator

Within 21 days after the later of:

  • the constitution of the Tribunal; or
  • the date on which the party proposing the disqualification first knew or first should have known of the facts on which the proposal is based

 

30(2)(a)

 

Response to Proposal for Disqualification

Within 21 days after receipt of proposal

 

30(2)(c)

Final written submissions on Proposal for Disqualification

Within 7 days after expiry of time limit in AR 21(1)(d) or after receipt of arbitrator’s statement

 

30(2)(e)

 

Objection that a Claim is Manifestly Without Legal Merit

No later than 45 days after the constitution of the Tribunal

 

51(2)(a)

 

Request for Bifurcation (not relating to preliminary objections)

As soon as possible

52(3)(a)

 

Notification of intent to file Preliminary Objections

As soon as possible

53(3)

 

Request for Bifurcation of Preliminary Objections

Within 45 days after:

  • the filing the memorial on the merits;
  • the filing of the written submission containing the ancillary claim if the objection relates to an ancillary claim; or
  • as soon as possible after the facts on which the preliminary objection is based become known to a party, if those facts were unknown to the party on the relevant dates

 

54(1)(a)

 

Preliminary Objections without a Request for Bifurcation

No later than the date to file the counter-memorial on the merits; or

No later than the date to file the next written submission after an ancillary claim is made, if the objection relates to the ancillary claim

55(b)

 

Memorial on Ancillary Claims

 

Incidental or additional claim: no later than in the reply

Counter-claim: no later than in the counter-memorial

(unless the Tribunal decides otherwise)

58(2)

 

Default

Grace period cannot exceed 60 days

59(3)

Discontinuance for Failure of Parties to Act

30 days after the notice that no step has been taken for 150 consecutive days

67(2)

Publication of Orders, Decisions and Awards

60 days to notify redactions and indicate any dispute concerning redactions

73

Request for Supplementary Decision, Rectification and Interpretation

 

Within 45 days after dispatch of the Award

72(2)

 

Extension of Time Limits Applicable to the Parties

Time limits fixed by the Tribunal (or by the Secretary-General if there is no Tribunal) may be extended by the Tribunal (or the Secretary-General) or by agreement of the parties. A party must file a reasoned request for an extension of such time limit before it expires (Additional Facility Arbitration Rule 19(2)).

Some of the time limits prescribed by the Additional Facility Arbitration Rules can only be extended by agreement of the parties, unless the Tribunal decides that there are special circumstances justifying the failure to meet the time limit (Additional Facility Arbitration Rule 19(1))

Extension of Time Limits Applicable to the Parties (Additional Facility Arbitration Rule 19)

chart

Time Limits Applicable to the Tribunal

The Additional Facility Arbitration Rules also prescribe time limits applicable to the Tribunal. These are best efforts obligations (Additional Facility Arbitration Rule 20(1)). The failure to comply with a time limit would not constitute a ground for challenging the validity of an Award or the Tribunal’s jurisdiction.

If a Tribunal cannot comply with a time limit, it must advise the parties of the special circumstances justifying the delay and provide an estimate of when the relevant ruling will be issued (Additional Facility Arbitration Rule 20(2)). Failure to do so may lead to the postponement of the payment of an arbitrator’s claim for fees. Information concerning outstanding rulings will be posted under the procedural details of the relevant case.

 

Type of Decision/
Order/Award

Time Limit

AF Arbitration Rule

Procedural Order No. 1

Within 15 days after the later of the First Session or the last written submission on procedural matters addressed at the first session

 

38(5)

Decision or Award on the objection that a claim manifestly lacks legal merit

Within 60 days after the later of the constitution of the Tribunal or the last submission on the objection

 

51(2)(e); 69(1)(a)

Decision on Bifurcation

Within 30 days after the last submission on the request

 

52(3)(d); 54(1)(e)

Decision or Award on Jurisdiction

Within 180 days after the last submission

54(3)(c); 69(1)(b)

Award on the Merits

Within 240 days after the last submission

 

54(4)(c); 55(d); 69(1)(c)

Decision on Provisional Measures

Within 30 days after the later of the constitution of the Tribunal or the last submission on the request

 

57(2)(d)

Decision on Security for Costs

Within 30 days after the later of the constitution of the Tribunal or the last submission on the request

 

63(2)(d)

Decision on rectification, supplementary decision or

Interpretation

Within 60 days after the last submission on the request

72(8)

Decision on whether to permit a submission by a non-disputing party

Within 30 days after the last written submission on the application

77(5)

Award in Expedited Arbitration

Within 120 days after the hearing

 

85(1)(i)

Decision on Rectification, Supplementary Decision or Interpretation in Expedited Arbitration

Within 30 days after the last submission on the request

87(3)