Dear Users,

Starting from Sunday 30 August 2020, CRCICA will resume work from Sunday to Thursday every week, from 9:00 am to 4:00 pm, with half its employees, who will be divided in two groups and working alternatively.

CRCICA will continue taking all precautionary measures to prevent COVID19, including regular disinfection of the premises and regular medical examinations for the employees to ensure their health and safety; and will ensure that all the persons present at CRCICA premises wear medical facemasks, keep social distancing, measure temperatures at the entrance and wash/sanitize their hands regularly.

CRCICA invites all users, parties to arbitration proceedings, counsels and arbitrators to follow the following recommendations.

1. Use email to file notices of arbitration, written submissions and exhibits. If this is impossible, submit written memorials and documents with exhibits on USB Flash-drives. Cases filed by Notices of Arbitration submitted electronically will be deemed registered on the date of the Centre's receipt of the amount of the registration fee in its bank account.

2. In application of their authority to decide on the appropriate manner to conduct the arbitral proceedings provided for in Articles 17.1 and 17.2 of CRCICA’s Arbitration Rules (the “Rules”), arbitral tribunals are also strongly encouraged to direct the Parties to use electronic means of communications for their communication with the tribunal and/or Parties and for the filing of any written submissions and to hold hearings.

CRCICA also wishes to draw the users’ and the arbitral tribunals’ attention to the following provisions of the Rules, and strongly encourages their application in these exceptional circumstances:

1. Article 17.3 of the Rules, which reads: “If at an appropriate stage of the proceedings any party so requests, the arbitral tribunal shall hold hearings for the presentation of evidence by witnesses, including expert witnesses, or for oral argument. In the absence of such a request, the arbitral tribunal shall decide whether to hold such hearings or whether the proceedings shall be conducted on the basis of documents and other materials.”

2. Article 28.4 of the Rules, which reads: “The arbitral tribunal may direct that witnesses, including expert witnesses, be examined through means of telecommunication that do not require their physical presence at the hearing (such as video conference).

CRCICA will keep all the users updated of any developments or changes in this plan.

For further inquiries, please write to: info@crcica.org and/or crcica.cases@crcica.org