The right to a fair trial is a basic principle of the rule of law in democratic societies, securing the right to a proper administration of justice. What makes the European Convention on Human Rights (ECHR) special in comparison with other international instruments is the possibility granted to any individual to file a complaint with the European Court of Human Rights (ECtHR). ECtHR cases are imbued with a 'preventive' impact: judges, courts, and tribunals in Signatory States to the ECHR are required to take into consideration Article 6 and the ECtHR's case law when handling and deciding cases. The copious case law of the ECtHR has led to an expansion of the number of specific rights deserving protection under the general category of the right to a fair trial, thus greatly enhancing the fundamental human rights that are listed in almost all international conventions and numerous state constitutions.

Arbitration law in Italy comes from various sources - the code of civil procedure, certain references within various laws, and the numerous bilateral and multilateral conventions to which Italy is a party. Without guidance, practitioners and academics risk missing an interpretational twist which changes the effect of the law. This book aims to provide the essential guidance needed to assure a complete, informed understanding of the law. The book concisely and effectively presents the law of arbitration in Italy through individual analyses of all relevant provisions. Accompanying notes, where appropriate, interpret the provisions and provide practical applications of each rule of law in the light of doctrinal writings, court decisions, and field experience. These notes straightforwardly present the black letter law on the topic in question. Areas covered include: dispute settlement; transnational litigation; conflict of laws; civil law; and procedural law. The text also addresses all of the main problems relating to arbitration as a method of dispute settlement by the parties' election, including: relations with state jurisdiction; status of the arbitrator; arbitrator impartiality; related duty of disclosure issues; challenges to arbitral awards; and enforcement of domestic and foreign awards in Italy. This book is offered in four languages - English, French, German, and Italian - for ease of reading for a geographical variety of audiences. Footnotes and cross-references also enhance its credibility.