Arbitration allows the parties to a dispute to have it settled by non-governmental bodies (= arbitration courts) by agreement (= arbitration agreement). The corresponding arbitration award at the end of the proceedings has the same effect as a final court judgment.
In addition to private arbitration tribunals, which are established on an ad hoc basis in the event of a dispute, there are also permanent arbitration institutions to which the parties voluntarily submit their dispute.
The seat and composition of the tribunal may also be decided within the framework of the arbitration agreement. If nothing of this kind is agreed between the parties, the statutory provisions of the ZPO apply. However, it should always be noted that certain matters are not arbitrable—for example, family law maintenance claims or certain matters of labor law.
