Recent Developments of Third Party Joinder in International Arbitration

Abstract

This article analyses the impact of the Singapore High Court decision CJD v. CJE and another [2021] SGHC 61 on the highly topical issue of third party joinder in international commercial arbitration. In its 2021 decision, the court applied a strict yardstick in view of party autonomy when interpreting consent requirements for joinder under the London Court of International Arbitration Rules 2014. A closer comparative analysis of the procedural rules of leading international arbitration institutions identifies the judgment’s guidance to similarly constructed joinder rules, such as the International Chamber of Commerce Rules 2021. The comparative analysis recognizes a larger growth of caseloads in Asia and results suggest an incrementally developing preference for joinder rules which are constructed in a wide manner. This includes the arbitral tribunal’s power to allow third parties to join already commenced arbitration proceedings based on a prima facie test, alongside express unanimous parties’ consent. International commercial arbitration, multi-party contracts, third party joinder, international arbitration institutions, institutional arbitration rules, dispute resolution, Singapore, private international law, comparative law