第三方资助国际投资仲裁的仲裁费用分配

On the Cost Allocation for Third-Party Funding in International Investment Arbitration

第三方资助者参与国际投资仲裁日渐增多,实践中对第三方资助费用是否构成国际投资仲裁费用产生了争议。投资仲裁庭通常根据争议当事方的行为对仲裁费用进行调整,以避免投资者利用第三方资助滥诉。近年来一些区域贸易协定和主要仲裁机构的仲裁规则等对仲裁费用分配的适用原则以及第三方资助费用进行了明确。投资仲裁庭也应增强其分配仲裁费用的可预见性,并通过费用分配的惩罚和指导功能来规范第三方资助者参与仲裁的行为,以维持投资者和东道国间的利益平衡。

The increasing popularity of third-party funders participating in international investment arbitration has led to a controversy over whether third-party funding costs constitutes a part of international investment arbitration costs. In practice, the investment arbitration tribunal usually adjusts the arbitration fees according to the behavior of the disputing parties in order to prevent investors from abusing third-party funding. In recent years, some regional trade agreements and arbitration rules of major arbitration institutions have clarified the applicable principles for the allocation of arbitration costs and third-party funding fees. The investment arbitration tribunal should also enhance the predictability of its allocation of arbitration fees and regulate the participation of third-party financiers in arbitration through the penalty and guidance function of cost allocation, so as to maintain the balance of interests between investors and the host country.