The Court decision upholds the award. The challenge of the award was based on three grounds: untimely issuance of the award; violation of due process regarding the production of evidence and the infringement of the arbitrators’ duty of impartiality and independence. The Court dismisses the first two grounds rather swiftly and concentrates on the third ground, which was threefold: the appellants argued the self-appointment of the Chairman; invoked a decision of the International Court of Arbitration challenging one of the arbitrators and, most importantly, alleged that two members of the Arbitral Tribunal and the Counsel to one of the parties were members of the Board of Directors of the Spanish Arbitration Association («Club Español del Arbitraje»). The Court holds that the self-appointment of the Chairman was made in accordance with the arbitration rules of the arbitral institution in charge of the case and that the challenge submitted to the International Court of Arbitration had no relevance for the present case, since it related to a different arbitration with different parties and, above all, the decision on the challenge was not motivated. As regards the last argument, the Court understands that members of the Arbitral Tribunal and counsel can share membership in the association, giving no rise to reasonable doubts as to the impartiality and independence of the arbitrators, and thus, there was no need of disclosure. This decision is not altered by the fact that they were no ordinary members, but officers of the Board of Directors. The Court arrives at this decision by applying the general principle of arbitrators’ impartiality and independence included in the Spanish Arbitration Act and, specifically, the grounds for challenge of judges, set forth in the Judiciary Law. The Court does not apply any «soft law» provision.