When are non-signatories bound by the arbitration agreement in international commercial arbitration?

Abstract

This thesis concerns the issue of third non-signatory parties and analyses under what circumstances they should be bound by an arbitration agreement not signed by them. First it refers to the effects of signing an arbitration agreement between the parties, and then analyses the different theories that eventually could support an extension of the arbitration agreement to third parties. Also, it refers to the legislation of different countries and the treatment courts dispense on this subject, as well as to some international rules to discover which approaches are contained in those rules. It concludes by referring to the most important trends existing presently regarding the subject, used by arbitral tribunals to bring third non-signatory parties into arbitration proceedings