Originally from World Arbitration And Mediation Review (WAMR)

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I. INTRODUCTION
It is for me a pleasure to have the opportunity to present a
short and general review of the basic elements and features of the
arbitration regime established on the Rotterdam Rules1 (“RR”)
and, in this way, to honor Prof. José María Abascal.
During many years – more than a decade – Prof. Abascal and I
participated in the negotiations on Uniform Trade Law issues and
drafted instruments, on both the sides of the Atlantic, Vienna and
New York alternatively, within the context of the Working Groups
and Plenary Sessions of the United Nations Commission on
International Trade Law (UNCITRAL). I remember well the
occasion in which Prof. Abascal was elected Chair of the Session
while I was elected as Vice Chairman. After such appointments,
there were plenty of opportunities to collaborate and to establish
a large and permanent fraternity based upon not only the shared
interest in commercial law but also on the common mother
tongue (Spanish) and our close cultural background.
From Prof. Abascal I received a large amount of the knowhow,
skills, and negotiating style that are often required to fulfill
the role of Chairman of UNCITRAL meetings and have served Prof.
Abascal well in that role.
Years later, in 2008, when Prof. Abascal was dedicated full time
to private practice in arbitration, it was my turn to act as chair of
UNCITRAL and to apply and further develop the previously learnt
Mexican skills and style. The result of the collaborative effort and