Arbitral tribunals refer to panels of one or more arbitrators responsible for adjudicating disputes between parties.

Arbitral tribunals refer to panels of one or more arbitrators responsible for adjudicating disputes between parties. However, unlike judges sitting in national courts, whose powers are usually clearly defined under the relevant national laws and procedures, an arbitral tribunal’s jurisdiction, powers and duties are prescribed by:

the agreement between the State parties to the relevant treaty;

the agreement between the parties to the dispute;

the applicable arbitration rules, e.g. the International Centre for Settlement of Investment Disputes (ISCID) Arbitration Rules or the United Nations Commission on International Trade Law (UNCITRAL) Arbitration Rules; and

the law of the place/seat of arbitration, or, if it is an ICSID arbitration, the ICSID Convention