TFL Vsebine / Revija Pravnik

5

Financiranje stroškov arbitraže (TPF) s strani tretjih oseb je danes ena najaktualnejših tem v mednarodni arbitraži. Za TPF je značilno, da financer z investiranjem kapitala stranki v arbitražnem postopku zagotavlja brezregresno financiranje zahtevkov v zameno za dogovorjeno premijo v primeru uspeha zahtevka. Finančna udeležba tretje osebe v arbitražnem postopku odpira številna pereča vprašanja, kot so neobstoj enotne opredelitve TPF, potencialna spornost pojava, pomanjkanje informacij o delovanju TPF v praksi in pogodbenih standardov v industriji, nevarnost čezmernega vpliva financerja na strateške odločitve v arbitražnem postopku, možen vpliv TPF na nepristranskost in neodvisnost arbitrov, nepredvidljivost učinkov TPF na odločitve senatov o stroških arbitražnega postopka in številna druga. Ta vprašanja zahtevajo jasne odgovore za stranke, odvetnike in arbitre, saj lahko pomembno vplivajo na arbitražni postopek in arbitražno odločbo kot rezultat tega postopka. TPF je zelo raznovrsten pojem, ki zajema različne možnosti finančne udeležbe tretjih oseb v arbitražnem postopku. Arbitražni doktrini in praksi zato še ni uspelo izoblikovati splošno sprejete opredelitve TPF, ki bi bila solidna osnova za njegovo regulacijo. Zato je namen tega prispevka opredeliti TPF in prispevati k boljšemu razumevanju tega novega pojava v Sloveniji.

Third-party funding (TPF) is currently regarded as one of the most highly debated topics in international arbitration. TPF can be described as providing of funding for the costs of arbitration of a party to the proceedings by a third party, in return for a success fee, if successful. The involvement of a third-party funder in arbitral proceedings raises numerous daunting issues, such as the absence of a uniform definition of TPF, the contentiousness of this phenomenon, lack of empirical data as regards the mechanics of TPF, underdeveloped industry standards, potential influence of third parties on the arbitral proceedings, potential impact on the impartiality and independence of arbitrators, and practical issues concerning decisions on costs in international commercial arbitration. These questions call for clear answers for parties, counsel and arbitrators, as they may significantly impact the arbitral proceedings and the arbitral award. The financial involvement of third parties in arbitral proceedings can come in various guises, which makes it difficult to distinguish between different forms of TPF. As a result, up to date there is no uniformly accepted definition of TPF, which would form a solid basis for regulation of TPF industry. The aim of the article is to define TPF and to contribute to a fuller understanding of this new phenomenon in Slovenia.

Third Party Funding in International Arbitration