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01About the Court

International Arbitration Court in Prague.

A permanent arbitration court established by law. Binding awards for domestic and international commercial disputes. Enforceable in over 170 states under the 1958 New York Convention.

Arbitration as an efficient alternative.

Arbitration is a flexible and efficient method of dispute resolution leading to the issuance of an arbitral award, which finally and bindingly resolves the specific dispute. The process is governed by Act No. 216/1994 Coll. on Arbitration Proceedings and on the Enforcement of Arbitral Awards.

Unlike traditional court proceedings, arbitration cases are decided by one or more arbitrators — experts in the specific subject matter who devote their full and intensive attention to the case. This significantly shortens the entire proceedings and ensures higher expert quality of the decision.

An arbitral award is a fully enforceable title in the Czech Republic, equivalent to a judgment of an ordinary court. In international disputes, its direct enforceability abroad is ensured by the 1958 New York Convention.

Permanent arbitration court PRIAC.

The International Arbitration Court in Prague at the Czech-Moravian Commodity Exchange Kladno is a permanent arbitration court established under Act No. 229/1992 Coll. on Commodities Exchanges, in accordance with Act No. 216/1994 Coll. on Arbitration Proceedings and on the Enforcement of Arbitral Awards. The Statute and Rules of Procedure of the Arbitration Court have been published in the Commercial Bulletin.

The Court decides all property disputes relating to commodities traded on the exchange, as well as disputes arising from off-exchange transactions involving these commodities and related services.

Arbitration at PRIAC ensures the highest standard of services thanks to precise rules and rigorous requirements placed on arbitrators on the List. The arbitrators are experienced experts with practice in deciding disputes in the Czech Republic and abroad.

CMCEK commodities.

At the Czech-Moravian Commodity Exchange Kladno (CMCEK), a wide range of industrial, agricultural and energy commodities may be traded under state authorisations issued by the Ministry of Industry and Trade of the Czech Republic and the Ministry of Agriculture of the Czech Republic.

It is also possible to conclude exchange transactions for commodity-related services — for instance insurance, transport, storage, or freight forwarding.

List of commodities traded on CMCEK →

Frequently asked questions.

What disputes does PRIAC decide?

The Arbitration Court is authorised to hear and decide domestic and international disputes from transactions concluded on CMCEK, as well as disputes from off-exchange transactions whose subject matter comprises commodities traded on the exchange and related services. Details are set out in § 1 of the Rules of Procedure.

Can PRIAC also decide international disputes?

Yes. With the consent of the parties, arbitrators decide disputes in Czech, English, French, German, Polish and Russian. Enforceability of the award abroad is ensured by the New York Convention.

What happens if the respondent does not comply with the award?

An arbitral award is final and enforceable — in the Czech Republic, a fully enforceable title. If the obligated party does not fulfil the obligation imposed by the award, the prevailing party may, on the basis of the award, apply to the court for enforcement. In international disputes, the New York Convention applies and ensures enforceability of the award abroad.

Can we add the clause to contracts that have already been concluded?

Yes, by way of an amendment to the contract. Even if a dispute has already arisen and you did not include an arbitration clause in your contract, you may, under § 2(3)(a) of Act No. 216/1994 Coll., conclude what is known as an arbitration agreement and agree to have the dispute decided by PRIAC.

How much does arbitration cost?

For domestic disputes, a one-time fee of 4% of the value of the matter in dispute is charged, with a cap of CZK 1,000,000. The fee for international disputes is determined according to the value of the dispute. In addition to the fee, a lump sum for administrative costs is charged according to the Tariff. The fee does not increase when several oral hearings are held. If successful, the award typically orders the opposing party to bear the costs.

How exactly do I file a statement of claim?

The procedure is similar to ordinary court proceedings. The requirements of the statement of claim are set out in §§ 18 and 19 of the Rules of Procedure; the number and language of submissions in § 7 of the Rules. Hearing of the claim is conditional on payment of the fee and the lump sum for administrative costs; if you do not calculate the amounts yourself according to the Rules on Costs, you will be invited by the Arbitration Court to pay them.

Have a dispute and want to use our services?

No registration, no prior agreement. An arbitration clause in the contract or an arbitration agreement concluded after the dispute has arisen is sufficient.

Start arbitration proceedings →Model arbitration clause →