Even if it covers many areas of French procedural law, the “21st Century Justice” law specifically encourages Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR), with an entire title dedicated to it. The new law adopts a broad concept of ADR, including mediation, conciliation, participatory procedure, negotiation and arbitration. It modifies, sometimes substantially, their legal regimes in order to develop and facilitate their use. The purpose of this article is to trace the story of this reform and explain its content, in the context of arbitration only. In relation to the domestic arbitration agreement, Article 2061 of the French Civil Code has been rewritten in two major ways: on the one hand, its scope has been significantly broadened since it can now be introduced in all contracts, including civil ones, as long as the parties freely dispose of their rights and agreed to it. This means that the arbitration agreement is no longer reserved for professionals only. On the other hand, when it is part of a consumer contract, it is also valid but the consumer will be able to waive it once the dispute has arisen. The modernity of its solutions and the fair balance between the parties are the two sides of this small revolution that projects arbitration into the 21st century.
ASA Bulletin