Governing Law; Disputes In view of the fact that: (i) it is contemplated that the Service Providers and the Company shall reside in different states and countries; and (ii) because Xxxxx & Fraade, P.C.’s (“M&F”) offices are located in the State of New York the work performed in drafting this Agreement occurred in the State of New York, the parties agree that this Agreement shall in all respects be construed, governed, applied and enforced in accordance with the laws of the State of New York and be deemed to be an agreement entered into in the State of New York and made pursuant to the laws of the State of New York, without giving effect to the principles of conflicts of law. Moreover, the parties agree that pursuant to Section 5-1401 of the General Obligations Law of New York, if applicable, this Agreement shall in all respects be construed, governed, applied and enforced in accordance with the laws of the State of New York and be deemed to be an agreement entered into in the State of New York and made pursuant to the laws of the State of New York, without giving effect to the principles of conflicts of law. Except as otherwise provided in Article “20” of this Agreement, the parties agree that they shall be deemed to have agreed to binding arbitration with respect to the entire subject matter of any and all disputes relating to or arising under this Agreement including, but not limited to, the specific matters or disputes as to which arbitration has been expressly provided for by other provisions of this Agreement and that any such arbitration shall be commenced exclusively in New York, New York. Any such arbitration shall be by a panel of three arbitrators and pursuant to the commercial rules then existing of the American Arbitration Association in the State of New York, County of New York. In all arbitrations, judgment upon the arbitration award may be entered in any court having jurisdiction. The parties specifically designate the courts in the City of New York, State of New York as properly having jurisdiction for any proceeding to confirm and enter judgment upon any such arbitration award. The parties hereby consent to and submit to the exclusive jurisdiction of the courts of the State of New York in any action or proceeding and submit to personal jurisdiction over each of them by such courts. The parties hereby waive personal service of any and all process and specifically consent that in any such action or proceeding brought in the courts of the State of New York, any service of process may be effectuated upon any of them by certified mail, return receipt requested, in accordance with Paragraph “C” of this Article “23” of this Agreement. Nothing contained herein shall be deemed to limit in any way any right to serve process in any manner permitted by law. The parties agree, further, that the prevailing party in any such arbitration as determined by the arbitrators shall be entitled to such costs and attorney's fees, if any, in connection with such arbitration as may be awarded by the arbitrators. In connection with the arbitrators’ determination for the purpose of which party, if any, is the prevailing party, they shall take into account all of the factors and circumstances including, without limitation, the relief sought, and by whom, and the relief, if any, awarded, and to whom. In addition, and notwithstanding the foregoing sentence, a party shall not be deemed to be the prevailing party in a claim seeking monetary damages, unless the amount of the arbitration award exceeds the amount offered in a legally binding writing by the other party by fifteen percent (15%) or more. For example, if the party initiating arbitration (“A”) seeks an award of $100,000 plus costs and expenses, the other party (“B”) has offered A $50,000 in a legally binding written offer prior to the commencement of the arbitration proceeding, and the arbitration panel awards any amount less than $57,500 to A, the panel should determine that B has “prevailed”. The arbitration panel shall have no power to award non-monetary or equitable relief of any sort. It shall also have no power to award (i) damages inconsistent with any applicable agreement between the parties or (ii) punitive damages or any other damages not measured by the prevailing party’s actual damages; and the parties expressly waive their right to obtain such damages in arbitration or in any other forum. In no event, even if any other portion of these provisions is held invalid or unenforceable, shall the arbitration panel have power to make an award or impose a remedy which could not be made or imposed by a court deciding the matter in the same jurisdiction. Discovery shall be permitted in connection with the arbitration only to the extent, if any, expressly authorized by the arbitration panel upon a showing of substantial need by the party seeking discovery. All aspects of the arbitration shall be treated as confidential. The parties and the arbitration panel may disclose the existence, content or results of the arbitration only as provided in the rules of the American Arbitration Association in New York, New York. Before making any such disclosure, a party shall give written notice to all other parties and shall afford such parties a reasonable opportunity to protect their interest.
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.
