The Vocabulary of the Indian Seat

Institutional arbitration uses Latin, statutory shorthand, and procedural terms that may be unfamiliar to corporate counsel and first-time parties. The Lexicon is the institutional definition list. Each entry is one sentence; each links forward to the Rulebook article or Knowledge piece where the term operates.

Ad-valorem

A fee calculated as a percentage of the sum in dispute, rather than at an hourly or fixed rate. Lex Arbitrate's Schedule I is ad-valorem; the calculator is published.

Article 11

The Rulebook article governing the Default Tribunal Timeline; sets the institutional target for issuance of the final award and the conditions for extension.

Article 24

The Rulebook article on Emergency Arbitrator constitution, applicable where a party requires interim relief before the Tribunal is constituted.

Article 38

The Institutional Data Room article: a structured, access-controlled repository for pleadings, evidence, and award drafts maintained by the Registry through the life of the matter.

Article 41

The Scrutiny of Award article. Before the Tribunal signs, the Registry scrutinises the draft for form, arithmetical accuracy, internal consistency, and compliance with the Rulebook.

Award

The Tribunal's reasoned written decision determining a dispute, issued under Part XI of the Rulebook and binding on the parties.

Commencement

The institutional moment a matter enters the Registry: the Secretariat's acknowledgment of a valid Notice of Arbitration, within one business day of receipt.

Constitution (of Tribunal)

The institutional moment the appointed sole arbitrator or three-member panel takes office. The Section 29A statutory clock runs from this date.

Emergency Arbitrator

An arbitrator appointed under Article 24 to grant urgent interim measures before the Tribunal is constituted; appointed within seven days of a valid application.

Iustitia Sine Mora

Justice Without Delay. The institutional motto and the standing commitment expressed in the Rulebook's timeline articles.

Indian Seat

The juridical seat of the arbitration in India, with the Indian courts as the supervisory courts and Indian arbitration law (Arbitration and Conciliation Act 1996, as amended) as the procedural lex arbitri.

Lex Arbitri

The procedural law governing the conduct of the arbitration; in an Indian-seated arbitration, the Arbitration and Conciliation Act 1996 and the institutional Rules.

Notice of Arbitration

The written request that initiates a matter before Lex Arbitrate, served in compliance with Part II of the Rulebook and the underlying arbitration agreement.

Reasoned Award

An award that records the Tribunal's findings, reasoning, and disposition; the only kind of award Lex Arbitrate issues unless the parties agree otherwise.

Registry

The institutional secretariat of Lex Arbitrate. The Registry maintains the institutional clock, scrutinises draft awards, and is the single channel of institutional communication.

Schedule I

The fee schedule attached to the Rulebook, fixing institutional fees on an ad-valorem basis. Parties price a dispute before commencement; the calculator is published.

Scrutiny

The Article 41 process by which the Registry reviews a draft award for form, arithmetic, consistency, and Rulebook compliance before the Tribunal signs.

Seat

The juridical home of the arbitration. The seat determines the supervisory court, the procedural law, and the regime governing setting-aside applications.

Section 29A

The provision of the Arbitration and Conciliation Act 1996 capping domestic arbitration at twelve months from constitution, extendable by six. The statutory ceiling against which Lex Arbitrate's eighteen-month institutional target sits.

Setting-Aside

An application before the supervisory court to set aside an arbitral award, governed by Section 34 of the Act. Article 41 scrutiny is structured to reduce setting-aside risk.

Supervisory Court

The court at the seat with jurisdiction over set-aside applications, interim relief, and award enforcement; for an Indian-seated arbitration, the relevant Indian commercial court.

Tribunal

The arbitrator or arbitrators appointed to determine a matter. May be a sole arbitrator or a three-member panel, per the parties' agreement and the Rulebook.

Withdrawal

A party's right under Article 7 to withdraw a Notice of Arbitration within fourteen days of filing without forfeiture of the Registration Fee.

The Lexicon is updated as the Rulebook evolves. Last reviewed: 25 April 2026.