Lexis Nexis对“Seat of arbitration”作出的英文解释为:“The jurisdiction in which an arbitration is deemed legally to take place and the award issued, regardless of the geographical location of the tribunal and/or any hearings.”中文意思是,仲裁被视为合法发生以及仲裁裁决被视为合法作出的司法管辖区。“Seat”具有特定的法律效力,用于确定仲裁实际上涉及的许多方面(比如,上诉权,是否能够获得临时救济,哪个国家的法院有权支持或监督仲裁)到底适用哪个国家或地区的程序法,以及确定裁决作出的地点,这一点对承认和执行裁决来说会产生重大影响。而对于“Venue”,《元照英美法词典》给出的释义为“指有管辖权的法院审判某一具体案件的地点”,在仲裁中,就是指仲裁程序实际进行的地理位置。一般情况下,仲裁协议或仲裁条款会对“Seat of arbitration”作出规定,但是如果未进行相关约定,按照大多数仲裁规则,“Seat of arbitration”会由仲裁机构或仲裁庭确定。
例句:
Article 14 – Seat and Venue of the Arbitration
14.1 The parties may agree on the seat of arbitration. Where there is no agreement as to the seat, the seat of arbitration shall be Hong Kong, unless the arbitral tribunal determines, having regard to the circumstances of the case, that another seat is more appropriate.
14.2 Unless the parties have agreed otherwise, the arbitral tribunal may meet at any location outside of the seat of arbitration which it considers appropriate for consultation among its members, hearing witnesses, experts or the parties, or the inspection of goods, other property or documents. The arbitration shall nonetheless be treated for all purposes as an arbitration conducted at the seat.
第14条 — 仲裁地和开庭地
14.1 当事人可约定仲裁地。若未约定,仲裁地则为香港,除非仲裁庭参酌案件具体情况决定另一仲裁地更为合适。
14.2 除非当事人另有约定,仲裁庭可在仲裁地之外的其认为适当的任何地点进行仲裁庭内部讨论,听取证人证言、专家证言或当事人陈述,或检查货物、其他财产或文件,而仲裁仍应在任何意义上被视为在仲裁地进行。
(《2018香港国际仲裁中心机构仲裁规则》第14条)