Kompetenz-kompetenz explained

German: '''Kompetenz-kompetenz''', or competence-competence, is a jurisprudential doctrine whereby a legal body, such as a court or arbitral tribunal, may have competence, or jurisdiction, to rule as to the extent of its own competence on an issue before it. The concept arose in the Federal Constitutional Court of Germany.^[1] Since then, German: kompetenz-kompetenz has often been important in international arbitration.^{[2] [3]}

In arbitration

The doctrine of German: kompetenz-kompetenz is enshrined in the UNCITRAL Model Law on International Commercial Arbitration and Arbitration Rules.^{[4] [5]} Article 16(1) of the Model Law and article 23(1) of the Arbitration Rules both dictate that "[t]he arbitral tribunal shall have the power to rule on its own jurisdiction, including any objections with respect to the existence or validity of the arbitration agreement."^{[6] [7]} United States arbitration law does not expressly address the principle of German: kompetenz-kompetenz, but courts have consistently recognised such a power where the parties have granted it to the tribunal.^[8]

See also

• Parliamentary sovereignty
• Primacy of European Union law

Notes and References

1. Lo. P. Y.. Master of One's Own Court. Hong Kong Law Journal. 2004. 34. 54. 34 Hong Kong L.J. 47, 54. HeinOnline. subscription.,. citing Book: Hartley, Trevor C.. Constitutional Problems of the European Union. 1999. Hart. 9781901362466. en. 152–153.
2. Dulic. Adrianna. First Options of Chicago, Inc. v. Kaplan and the Kompetenz-Kompetenz Principle. Pepperdine Dispute Resolution Law Journal. 2002. 2. 1. 77–97. 2 Pepp. Disp. Resol. L.J. 77. HeinOnline. subscription.
3. Book: Oehmke, Thomas H.. Commercial Arbitration. 3rd. with Joan M. Brovins. International Arbitration. 2. § 41:65.
4. Book: Bantekas, Ilias. An introduction to international arbitration. 9781316275696. New York. 109. 917009113.
5. Book: A guide to the UNCITRAL arbitration rules. Croft. Clyde Elliott. Kee. Christopher. Waincymer. Jeff. 2013. Cambridge University Press. 9781107336209. Cambridge. 249. 842929920. Clyde Croft.
6. Book: United Nations Commission on International Trade Law. UNCITRAL Model Law on International Commercial Arbitration. 1994. art. 16(1). 2019-09-12. 2011-09-27. https://web.archive.org/web/20110927161839/http://www.uncitral.org/pdf/english/texts/arbitration/ml-arb/06-54671_Ebook.pdf. dead.
7. Book: United Nations Commission on International Trade Law. UNCITRAL Arbitration Rules (with new article 1, paragraph 4, as adopted in 2013). 2014. art. 23(1).
8. Web site: Arbitration Procedures and Practice in the United States: Overview . Thomson Reuters Practical Law . 10 July 2021.