Selected Austrian Supreme Court Decisions on Arbitration

A selection of arbitration-related decisions of the Austrian Supreme Court in chronological order bw 1954-2021 with a link to the (German) full text of the respective decisions in the Austrian Legal Information System (RIS) can be found here. 

You can find an English summary of (the majority of) the decisions in the “Austrian Yearbook on International Arbitration” (2007 - 2019), edited by Klausegger/Klein/Kremslehner/Petsche/Pitkowitz/Welser/Zeiler and published in C.H.Beck, MANZ Verlag Wien, Stämpfli Verlag, written by Markus Schifferl with Nikolaus Pitkowitz/Venus Valentina Wong(Alexander Zojer. The contributions in the various editions of the Austrian Yearbook are accessible online in the RDB legal database and on the Wolters Kluwer - Website.

 

2024

  Date Type of proceeding Outcome of the
proceeding		 Subject matters
18ONc1/24b 08.08.2024 appointment of arbitrators successful Existence of an arbitration agreement
4Ob46/24d 25.06.2024 appeal unsucessful A claim seeking a declaration on the existence or non-existence of an arbitration
agreement is not admissible before an ordinary court
18OCg3/22y 03.04.2024 setting aside proceeding successful Lack of objective arbitrability, objective arbitrability of corporate disputes, insufficient drafting of the arbitration agreement as a problem of arbitrability.
2Nc13/24w 26.03.2024 notification of partiality unsucessful Partiality of judges of the Senate of the Supreme Court responsible for arbitration proceedings due to their membership in the VIAC Board

 

2023

  Date Type of proceeding Outcome of the
proceeding		 Subject matters
18OCg1/23f 14/09/2023 setting aside proceeding unsuccessful Claim dismissd due to lack of form
18OCg2/22a 11/01/2023 setting aside proceeding unsuccessful Validity of arbitration agreement

 

2022 

  Date Type of proceeding Outcome of
the
proceeding		 Subject matters
18ONc1/22z 28/09/2022 appointment of
arbitrators		 successful Appointment of the arbitral tribunal
18OCg2/22a

16/09/2022

 setting aside
proceeding		 unsuccessful

setting aside of an arbitral award;
electronic file
3Ob80/22v 08/09/2022 appeal successful Recognition and declaration of
enforcability; BIT
7Ob79/22a 29/06/2022 appeal unsuccessful Joinder of a third party;
pending proceedings;
termination of proceedings
18ONc1/22z 02/06/2022 appointment of
arbitrators		 successful Appointment of arbitrators
18OCg1/22d 04/05/2022 setting aside
proceeding		 unsuccessful violation of the ordre public;
violation of Austrian law;
arbitrary application of the law;
contradictory assessment of the facts
18ONc1/22z 14/03/2022 appointment of
arbitrators		 unsuccessful Appointment of arbitrators;
pending proceedings
18ONc1/22z 22/02/2022 appointment of
arbitrators		 successful Appointment of arbitrators

  

2021

  Date Type of proceeding Outcome of
the proceeding		 Subject matters
18OCg5/21s 15/12/2021 setting aside proceeding unsuccessful Violation of the right to be heard; possibility to comment on the decision on costs; excess of powers of the arbitral tribunal; violation of the ordre public; non-conformity with matters in the record; arbitrariness
3Ob152/21f 21/10/2021 appeal unsuccessful Validity of an arbitration agreement under foreign law; Execution of an award; Case-by-case assessment for arbitration agreements
18ONc5/21m 22/09/2021 appointment of arbitrators successful Failure to appoint an arbitrator; Appointment by the court; jurisdiction of the Austrian Supreme Court
18OCg2/21z 22/09/2021 setting aside proceeding unsuccessful Violation of the right to be heard;  violation of the ordre public; 
18ONc6/21h 22/09/2021 challenge of arbitrators unsuccessful Challenge of arbitrators - application unfounded
1Ob121/21g 21/07/2021 appeal successful arbitral tribunal of an association; formation of a functioning arbitral tribunal; inactivity of an arbitrator; appealing to the arbitral tribunal is unreasonable; litigation without arbitration 
9ObA47/20g 29/04/2021 appeal successful admissibility and content of conciliation agreements; gross unfairness  
4Ob36/21d 20/04/2021 appeal unsuccessful contract for the benefit of third parties; scope of the arbitration agreement
4Ob43/21h 20/04/2021 appeal unsuccessful contract for the benefit of third parties; scope of the arbitration agreement
18OCg1/21b 14/04/2021 setting aside proceeding unsuccessful Private foundation; lack of jurisdiction; declaration of foundation equals articles of association; latest procedural laws are applied
3Ob2/21x 24/03/2021 appeal unsuccessful refusal of recognition and declaration of enforceability of an annulled foreign arbitral award (Art V (1) (e) NYC); violation of public policy (Art V (2) (b) NYC)
9ObA4/21k 24/03/2021 appeal unsuccessful objection to jurisdiction; agreement to arbitrate constitutes procedural bar to claiming the lack of subject-matter jurisdiction
18OCg10/19y 02/03/2021 setting aside proceeding unsuccessful excess of powers of the arbitral tribunal; public policy; right to be heard (surprising decision); decision based on prinicples of fairness and equitablility; applicable law; choice of law - principal contract as an indication for a conclusive choice of law; interpretation; arbitrability; derogation from the arbitral tribunals' obligation to conduct an oral hearing; the necessity to conduct an oral hearing
18OCg5/20i 17/02/2021

setting aside proceeding

 unsuccessful action for annulment of an arbitral award on the grounds of bias of the sole arbitrator, on the grounds of alleged serious procedural violations; violation of the right for clarification and correction of the arbitral award; form of the arbitration agreement; lack of form relating to the power of attorney; exceeding of the parties' request for relief
3Ob127/20b 20/01/2021 appeal unsuccessful the relation between state jurisdiction and arbitration (Sec. 584 paragraph 1 ZPO); admissibility of optional arbitration agreements
3Ob198/20v 20/01/2021 appeal unsuccessful proceedings for a declaration of enforceability of foreign arbitral awards, review of the public policy violation of a decision on legal costs; primacy of intergovernmental agreements - specifically the 1954 Hague Convention on Legal Costs
18ONc5/20k 19/01/2021 challenge of arbitrators unsuccessful challenge of arbitrators - application unfounded


 

2020

  Date Type of proceeding Outcome of the
proceeding		 Subject matters
4Ob136/20h 20/10/2020 appeal unsuccessful interpretation of the arbitration agreement; scope of the arbitration agreement; competence of the arbitral tribunal
18OCg6/20m 29/09/2020 setting aside proceeding successful The arbitral tribunal wrongly denied its jursidiction; interpretation of an arbitration agreement; analogous application of § 611 para. 2 no. 1 2nd case ZPO)
8Ob77/20m 28/09/2020 appeal unsuccessful differentiation between conciliation panels ("Schlichtungseinrichtung") and arbitral tribunals; interpretation of association statutes (Sec 577 et seqq. ZPO); arbitrability
6Ob28/20s 23/09/2020 appeal unsuccessful arbitrability; liquidation
18OCg3/20w  23/07/2020 setting aside proceeding unsuccessful arbitrability; public policy; conflicts of interest of arbitrators
18ONc2/20v 23/07/2020 appointment of arbitrators successful appointment of arbitrators
18ONc1/20x 23/07/2020 challenge of arbitrators unsuccessful conflicts of interest of arbitrators - contact between arbitrator and party representative; IBA Guidlines on Conflicts of Interest in International Arbitration
18ONc3/20s 23/07/2020 challenge of arbitrators unsuccessful Challenge of arbitrators; admissability of conducting an arbtiration hearing by means of a video conference - performance despite opposition of a party; Art 6 ECHR; due process
18Ocg1/20a

23/07/2020

 setting aside proceeding unsuccessful public policy - assessment standard; sham trial; inadmissibility of révision au fond
5Ob27/20m 07/07/2020 appeal unsuccessful legal consequenes resulting from the invalidity of an expert contract for the binding character of an expert determination
18OCg4/20t 18/06/2020 setting aside proceeding unsuccessful requirement of translation of the arbitral award
9Ob18/20t 26/05/2020 appeal unsuccessful differentiation between arbitral awards and expert determinations
2Nc16/20f 26/05/2020 challenge of arbitrators successful conflicts of interest of judges in state court proceedings
related to arbitration proceedings
18ONc3/19i 09/04/2020 appointment of arbitrators unsuccessful legal representation not required in setting aside proceedings -
no interruption of proceedings due to death of party representative
18OCg7/19g 06/03/2020 setting aside proceeding unsuccessful applicable law, choice of law; application for legal aid;
public policy - degree of domestic nexus of award decisive
18OCg11/19w 06/03/2020 setting aside proceeding unsuccessful validity of the arbitration agreement - public authorities
18OCg12/19t 15/01/2020 setting aside proceeding unsuccessful public policy - reimbursement of costs
18OCg6/18h 15/01/2020 setting aside proceeding unsuccessful Rom I Regulation - not applicable in arbitration proceedings as well as
in related state court proceedings
18OCg9/19a 15/01/2020 setting aside proceeding unsuccessful right to be heard - application to take evidence;
public policy - arbitral hearings


 

2019

  Date Type of proceeding Outcome of the
proceeding		 Subject matters
18ONc 3/19i 20/12/2019 appointment of arbitrators successful scope of the arbitration agreement - non-signatories;
conflicts of interest of arbitrators
3Ob13/19m 19/11/2019 enforcement proceeding unsuccessful public policy - consultations and votes within the arbitral tribunal
2Nc38/19i 09/10/2019 enforcement proceeding successful conflicts of interest of judges in state court proceedings related
to arbitration proceedings
18OCg5/19p 01/10/2019 setting aside proceeding unsuccessful conflicts of interest of arbitrators - assertion after the
end of the arbitration proceedings; public policy (Art 10 ECHR)
18ONc2/19t 01/10/2019 challenge of arbitrators successful conflicts of interest of arbitrators - assessment standard and time limit; about the arbitrator's behavior during an arbitration hearing
6Ob142/19d 29/08/2019 appeal successful universal application of the New York Convention
18OCg1/19z 15/05/2019 setting aside proceeding unsuccessful exceeding the request for relief; right to be heard - 
application to take evidence; public policy - lack of reasoning; revison au fond
18ONc1/19w 15/05/2019 challenge of arbitrators successful conflicts of interest of arbitrators - personnel interrelations
18OCg6/19k 15/05/2019 setting aside proceeding unsuccessful arbitral tribunals in the meaning of Sec. 577 ZPO ("Börsenschiedsgerichte")
18OCg6/18h 15/05/2019 setting aside proceeding unsuccessful applicable law, choice of law; scope of the arbitration agreement
(organs of legal entities); right to be heard (application to take evidence)
18OCg2/19x 18/02/2019 setting aside proceeding unsuccessful arbitral tribunals in the meaning of Sec. 577 ZPO (association conciliation panels)
2Nc6/19h 14/02/2019 setting aside proceeding successful conflicts of interest of judges - in state court proceedings
related to arbitration proceedings
5Ob63/18b 17/01/2019 setting aside proceeding unsuccessful time limitation of arbitration agreements


 

2018

  Date Type of proceeding Outcome of the
proceeding		 Subject matters
3Ob153/18y 19/12/2018 enforcement proceeding successful enforceability of an arbitral award
18OCg5/18m 30/11/2018 setting aside proceeding successful differentiation between arbitral awards and expert determinations
18OCg6/18h 20/11/2018 application purusant to Art 53 EuGVVO unsuccessful confirmation of an application pursuant to Art 53 Rom I Regulation; exemption under Art 1 para 2 d Rom I Regulation
18OCg2/18w 09/10/2018 Setting aside proceedings unsuccessful validity of the arbtiration agreement; foreclosure of the ground for setting aside; requirement of the written form; right to be heard; public policy; reasoning of the arbitral award 
18OCg1/18y 21/08/2018 setting aside proceeding successful application to set aside an arbitral award
18OCg1/17x 20/03/2018 setting aside proceeding unsuccessful public policy
18ONc4/17h 06/02/2018 appointment of arbitrators unsuccessful appointment of arbitrators
6Ob195/17w 17/01/2018 appeal successful form requirement - power of attorney to conclude an arbitration agreement


 

2017

  Date Type of proceeding

Outcome of
the
proceeding

 Subject matters
6Ob104/17p 21/12/2017 recission proceeding
(shareholders resolution)		 unsuccessful arbitration clauses in corporate statutes
6Ob178/17w 21/12/2017 appeal unsuccessful interpretation of arbitral awards
18ONc1/17t 07/09/2017 challenge of arbitrators unsuccessful challenge of arbitrators
3Ob118/17z 04/07/2017 enforcement proceeding unsuccessful enforceability of arbitral awards
4Ob92/17h 30/05/2017 appeal successful award set aside by wrong court
18OCg6/16f 02/03/2017 setting aside proceeding unsuccessful sports arbitration
5Ob72/16y 01/03/2017 appeal partially successful arbitration agreement; choice of law and European Union law


 

2016

  Date Type of proceeding Outcome of
the
proceeding		 Subject matters
18OCg5/16h 06/12/2016 setting aside proceeding unsuccessful public policy; right to be heard
7Nc18/16f 19/10/2016 Application pursuant to JN Sec. 28 (1) 2 unsuccessful arbitration before CIETAC - not infeasible
18OCg3/16i 28/09/2016 setting aside proceeding partially successful Procedural Public Order - lack of reasoning
18OCg2/16t 28/09/2016 setting aside proceeding unsuccessful pending arbitration
18OCg3/15p 23/02/2016 setting aside proceeding unsuccessful public policy; inadmissibility of révision au fond; right to be heard - standard of review before the OGH (Supreme Court); scope of the request for relief - no excess of powers by the arbitral tribunal


 

2015

  Date Type of proceeding Outcome of the
proceeding		 Subject matters
18OCg1/15v 23/06/2015 setting aside proceedings unsuccessful applicable law; choice of law - principal contract as an indication for a conclusive choice of law
18OCg2/15s 19/06/2015 setting aside proceedings

unsuccessful

 public policy; right to be heard; no excess of powers by the arbitral tribunal


 

2014

  Date Type of proceeding Outcome of
the
proceeding		 Subject matters
18ONc1/14p 05/08/2014 challenge of arbitrators unsuccessful conflicts of interest of arbitrators - personnel interrelations
18ONc2/14k 05/08/2014 challenge of arbitrators unsuccessful conflicts of interest of arbitrators - personnel interrelations


 

2012

  Date Type of proceeding Outcome of
the
proceeding		 Subject matters
6Ob42/12p 19/04/2012 recission proceeding
(shareholders resolution)		 unsuccessful arbitrability of actions for nullity
3Ob44/12k 18/04/2012 enforcement proceeding unsuccessful provisional measures (Brussels I-Regulation)
3Ob38/12b 18/04/2012 enforcement proceeding unsuccessful right to be heard


 

2011

  Date Type of proceeding Outcome of
the
proceeding		 Subject matters
3Ob154/10h 13/04/2011 enforcement proceeding successful public policy - consultations and votes within the arbitral tribunal


 

2010

  Date Type of proceeding Outcome of
the
proceeding		 Subject matters
7Ob216/09d 05/05/2010 appeal unsuccessful arbitration and the CMR (Convention on the Contract for the
International Carriage of Goods by Road)
3Ob25/10p 24/02/2010 enforcement proceeding unsuccessful confirmation of finality and enforceability
7Ob225/09i
(7Ob256/09m)		 27/01/2010 appeal unsuccessful interim and protective measures


 

2009

  Date Type of proceeding Outcome of
the
proceeding		 Subject matters
3Ob144/09m 22/07/2009 appeal unsuccessful consumer related issues in arbitration
7Ob266/08f 30/03/2009 appeal successful applicable law and extension of an arbitration agreement to third parties


 

2008

>

  Date Type of proceeding Outcome of
the
proceeding		 Subject matters
6Ob170/08f 01/10/2008 appeal unsuccessful binding effect of awards and third party intervention (Art 6 ECHR)
3Ob35/08f 03/09/2008 enforcement proceeding partially successful authentification and certification of an award (NYC)
4Ob80/08f 26/08/2008 appeal partially successful scope of the arbitration clause
9Ob53/08x 20/08/2008 setting aside proceeding unsuccessful public policy; due process; challenge of arbitrators
5Ob272/07x 01/04/2008 setting aside proceeding unsuccessful public policy (Law on Restitution of Art Objects of 1998)
8Ob4/08h 28/02/2008 appeal unsuccessful liability of arbitrators
10Ob120/07f 05/02/2008 setting aside proceeding unsuccessful time limit for the challenge of an arbitral award


 

2007

  Date Type of proceeding Outcome of
the
proceeding		 Subject matters
3Ob141/07t 23/10/2007 enforcement proceeding unsuccessful enforcement under the New York Convention and the
requirement of a special power of attorney
4Ob142/07x 07/08/2007 appeal unsuccessful arbitration agreement - separability and writing requirement
3Ob281/06d 22/02/2007 setting aside proceeding unsuccessful interpretation of arbitration agreements and setting aside of arbitral awards


 

2006

  Date Type of proceeding Outcome of
the
proceeding		 Subject matters
6Ob207/06v 30/11/2006 appointment of arbitrators unsuccessful duty of disclosure and arbitrators' fees


 

before Arbitration Act 2006 (until 1 July 2006)

  Date Type of proceeding Outcome of
the
proceeding		 Subject matters
10Ob3/06y 22/05/2006 appeal unsuccessful scope of statutory arbitration clauses
3Ob211/05h 26/04/2006 enforcement proceeding successful translation of an arbitral award, dissenting opinions and
deliberations of the arbitral tribunal
7Ob236/05i 26/04/2006 setting aside proceeding unsuccessful validity of the arbitration agreement - applicable law
7Ob64/06x 29/03/2006 setting aside proceeding successful arbitration agreement - requirement of
a written special power of attorney
7Ob252/05t 08/03/2006 setting aside proceeding successful advance on costs - no setting aside of
preliminary or interim decisions
7Ob314/04h 26/01/2005 setting aside proceeding unsuccessful challenge of arbitrators
3Ob221/04b 26/01/2005 setting aside proceeding partially successful annual interest rate - Austrian public policy
9ObA94/04w 15/09/2004 setting aside proceeding unsuccessful challenge of arbitrators
7Ob96/03y 28/05/2003 setting aside proceeding unsuccessful challenge of arbitrators
7Ob265/02z 18/12/2002 setting aside proceeding unsuccessful right to be heard
4Ob37/01x 03/04/2001 recission proceeding
(shareholders resolution)		 successful arbitrability of the matter in dispute
7Ob221/98w 10/12/1998 recission proceeding
(shareholders resolution)		 unsuccessful arbitrability of the matter in dispute
7Ob229/98x 15/09/1998 setting aside proceeding unsuccessful annual interest rate - Austrian public policy
3Ob2372/96m 05/05/1998 setting aside proceeding partially successful interpretation of an arbitration agreement
6Ob186/97i 24/07/1997 setting aside proceeding unsuccessful right to be heard
6Ob572/90 06/09/1990 setting aside proceeding unsuccessful principle of separability
2Ob516/84 29/02/1984 setting aside proceeding unsuccessful constitution of the arbitral tribunal (chairperson)
8Ob520/82 18/11/1982 setting aside proceeding successful jurisdiction of the arbitral tribunal - ex aequo et bono