Many large
contracts include arbitration clauses. Increasingly, both in commercial and in
investment arbitration, arbitrators are confronted with allegations of illegal
acts like fraud, corruption, money laundering or bid rigging etc. Parties and
arbitrators are typically in a delicate situation as they lack the support of
law enforcement agencies and coercive measures. The allegations of illegality
can be a powerful weapon if substantiated. However, they are also used as an
easy way to skirt obligations. Dealing with illegality poses problems of a
substantive nature. But the rules of evidence also frequently require
expertise. The Competence Centre Arbitration and Crime combines such expertise.
