Update for Practical Law by Maxim Kulkov and Elena Zaltser

The Russian Arbitration Association (RAA) has established nine new working groups that have been tasked with drafting arbitration rules, standard form contracts and commentaries relating to new arbitration laws in Russia (see Legal update, Russian Parliament passes Bill on arbitration at second reading).

The working groups may be divided into several categories, such as constituent documents and rules of the RAA, arbitration rules for specific industries, rules on evidence, standard form contracts and commentaries to new laws. In particular, the working groups will work on drafting the following documents:

• The RAA Charter and Arbitration rules to administer disputes under the UNCITRAL Arbitration Rules.
• Arbitration rules for corporate disputes (corporate disputes will become arbitrable in Russia when the amended arbitration laws enter into force on 1 September 2016).
• Arbitration rules for insurance disputes.
• Arbitration rules for venture investments disputes.
• Construction arbitration rules.
• Rules on the taking of evidence (introducing an inquisitorial procedure of taking evidence).
• Standard form contracts.
• Commentary to the new laws.

In addition, one working group will monitor arbitration-related case law. This initiative of the RAA aims at improving arbitration-friendliness in Russia, and as long as it will involve prominent Russian legal scholars and practitioners, the working groups should vastly progress Russia as a place for arbitration.

Source: Russian Arbitration Association: Join new Working Groups of the RAA.