Introduction to the New York Convention

Ms. Koh introduced the audience to the New York Convention, which had 159 contracting parties at the time of the conference. The convention has been in effect for almost 60 years. It is widely lauded as one of the most successful United Nations treaty in the area of international trade law. Regarded as the cornerstone of international arbitration, the convention seeks to provide common legislative standards for the recognition of arbitration agreements and court recognition and enforcement of foreign and non-domestic arbitral awards. Ms. Koh focused on Article V, which sets out the exhaustive grounds for refusing the recognition and enforcement of arbitral awards.