Law Commons^™

Commercial Arbitration In Federal Courts, James F. Nooney

Vanderbilt Law Review

With increasing frequency attorneys are confronted with disputes arising under commercial contracts which contain arbitration agreements. Before the attorney can advise the client as to his legal position and recommend a course of conduct, he must interpret the effect of the arbitration agreement. Often the first question for the attorney is whether the client (or, in turn, the opposing party) can be forced to arbitrate. The answer depends upon whether agreements to arbitrate future disputes are enforceable under the law applicable to the transaction. Where both parties to the contract are citizens of the same state, the answer is readily …