Dispute Resolution and Arbitration The following procedures shall be used in the resolution of disputes:
Dispute Resolution; Arbitration (a) At the option of Company or Executive, and to the extent permitted by applicable law, any dispute, controversy or question arising under, based on or relating to this Agreement, or any breach or failure to comply with the terms hereof (each a “Dispute”), shall be finally and exclusively resolved by binding arbitration administered by the American Arbitration Association (“AAA”) under its Commercial Arbitration Rules (the “AAA Rules”). Unless otherwise agreed by the Parties, arbitration of any Dispute shall be conducted before a single arbitrator selected by the Parties and the forum and venue for such arbitration shall be AAA’s Los Angeles Regional Center in Los Angeles, California. Each Party hereby submits to AAA and the selected forum for the arbitration of any Dispute, waives any objection to the venue of such arbitration, and agrees that service of process and other notices, pleadings and documents in any arbitration or proceeding hereunder may be delivered to a Party in accordance with the provisions governing “Notices” in this Agreement.
(b) If the Parties are unable to agree upon a neutral arbitrator within thirty (30) days after a Party notifies the other Party in writing of its intent to submit a Dispute to arbitration, either Party may apply to AAA for the appointment of an arbitrator or, if AAA is not then in existence or declines to act, either Party may apply to the Presiding Judge of the Superior Court of any county in the State of California for the appointment of a neutral arbitrator to hear the Parties and settle the Dispute and such Judge is hereby authorized to make such appointment.
(c) If the Parties so agree in writing, and subject to the consent of the single arbitrator, hearings and proceedings conducted in the arbitration of any Dispute hereunder may be conducted remotely by secure video conferencing technology that is acceptable to the Parties.
(d) The decision or award of the arbitrator shall be in writing and shall set forth detailed reasoning for the award. Discovery shall be conducted expeditiously, bearing in mind the objective of limiting discovery and expediting the decision or award of the arbitrator at the most reasonable cost and expense to the Parties. The decision of the arbitrator shall be final, conclusive and binding on the Parties and no action at law or in equity shall be instituted or, if instituted, prosecuted by either Party other than to enforce the award of the arbitrator. Judgment upon an award rendered pursuant to such arbitration may be entered in any court having jurisdiction or application may be made to such court for a judicial acceptance of the award and/or an order of enforcement, as the case may be.
Governing Law; Arbitration This Agreement shall be governed and interpreted in accordance with the laws of the State of New York without giving effect to the conflicts of law principles thereof. Any dispute, controversy or claim (each, a “Dispute”) arising out of or relating to this Agreement, or the interpretation, breach, termination, validity or invalidity thereof, shall be referred to arbitration upon the demand of either party to the dispute with notice (the “Arbitration Notice”) to the other. The Dispute shall be settled by arbitration in Hong Kong by the Hong Kong International Arbitration Centre (the “HKIAC”) in accordance with the Hong Kong International Arbitration Centre Administered Arbitration Rules (the “HKIAC Rules”) in force at the time when the Arbitration Notice is submitted. The seat of arbitration shall be Hong Kong. There shall be three (3) arbitrators. The complainant and the respondent to such dispute shall each select one arbitrator within thirty (30) days after giving or receiving the demand for arbitration (the “Selection Period”). Such arbitrators shall be freely selected, and the parties shall not be limited in their selection to any prescribed list. The chairman of the HKIAC shall select the third arbitrator. If either party to the arbitration fails to appoint an arbitrator with the Selection Period, the relevant appointment shall be made by the chairman of the HKIAC. The arbitral proceedings shall be conducted in English. To the extent that the HKIAC Rules are in conflict with the provisions of this Section 5.2, including the provisions concerning the appointment of the arbitrators, this Section 5.2 shall prevail. The award of the arbitral tribunal shall be final and binding upon the parties thereto, and the prevailing party may apply to a court of competent jurisdiction for enforcement of such award. In the event of the arbitration of any Dispute pursuant to this Section, the losing party in such arbitration shall pay to the prevailing party all expenses and fees (including reasonable attorneys’ fees) incurred in connection with the arbitration of such Dispute, and the arbitration order, ruling or award shall contain a specific provision providing for such payment.
Submission to Arbitration The Respondent Party may agree to the Claimant Party’s proposal of arbitration by responding in writing within ten (10) Business Days following receipt of such proposal. Within five (5) Business Days following receipt of the Respondent Party’s agreement to arbitrate, the Claimant Party may submit the Dispute Item to the American Arbitration Association (“AAA”) for arbitration. No Dispute Item may be submitted for arbitration without the consent of both parties.
CLASS-ARBITRATION WAIVER ARBITRATION IS HANDLED ON AN INDIVIDUAL BASIS. IF A DISPUTE IS ARBITRATED, YOU AND WE EXPRESSLY WAIVE ANY RIGHT TO PARTICIPATE AS A CLASS REPRESENTATIVE OR CLASS MEMBER ON ANY CLASS CLAIM YOU MAY HAVE AGAINST US OR WE AGAINST YOU, OR AS A PRIVATE ATTORNEY GENERAL OR IN ANY OTHER REPRESENTATIVE CAPACITY, TO THE MAXIMUM EXTENT PERMITTED BY LAW. YOU AND WE ALSO WAIVE ANY RIGHT TO CLASS ARBITRATION OR ANY CONSOLIDATION OF INDIVIDUAL ARBITRATIONS.