ERDEM-NEWSLETTER-2018-metin

121 ARBITRATION LAW With this provision, the set-aside actions to be initiated under the IAA shall be heard before the regional courts of appeal, and not the first instance court. It should be emphasized that this provision is in line with current international arbitration practice. More specifically, in international arbitration practice, the legislation in France, Switzer- land, and Germany provide provisions stating that set-aside actions shall be heard by courts of appeal. For instance, in France, the set- aside actions to be filed against arbitral awards shall be heard by the court of appeal ( Cour d’Appel ) located at the place of arbitration 5 . Similarly, in Switzerland, the Swiss Federal Court has competence to set-aside actions 6 . Lastly, in Germany, in lawsuits related to arbitra- tion to be filed before state courts, including set-aside actions, the High Regional Court ( Oberlandesgericht, OLG ) has jurisdiction 7 . Under German law, the reason why courts of second instance have jurisdic- tion concerning the lawsuits on arbitration proceedings to be filed before state courts is that the functions that the courts of first instance would normally assume are undertaken by the arbitral tribunal during arbitration proceedings 8 . Accordingly, the lawsuits to be filed before state courts would be finalized in a faster and more efficient manner. In light of our explanations, the provision setting forth that the regional courts of appeal would be competent in set-aside actions con- cerning arbitral awards is a very positive development. dent, or in case the respondent does not have its legal seat or habitual residence or place of business in Turkey, the Civil Court of First Instance in Istanbul shall be competent to hear the dispute. 5 French Code of Civil Procedure, (Code de Procédure Civile), Art. 1519, https:// www.legifrance.gouv.fr/affichCode.do ;jsessionid=82970190322B23ADA21851 631E3097A5.tplgfr23s_1?idSectionTA=LEGISCTA000023427652&cidTexte= LEGITEXT000006070716&dateTexte=20180404 (Access date: March 2018). 6 Federal Statute on Private International Law, Art. 191. https://www.swissarbitra - tion.org/files/34/Swiss%20International%20Arbitration%20Law/IPRG_english. pdf (Access date: March 2018). 7 German Code of Civil Procedure, (Zivilprozessordnung, ZPO), Art. 1062, https:// www.gesetze-im-internet.de/englisch_zpo/englisch_zpo.html#p3674 (Access date: March 2018). 8 Karl-Heinz Bockstiegel, Stefan Kröll, Patricia Nacimiento , Arbtration in Ger- many: The Model Law in Practice, 2nd ed., p. 18, fn. 69, http://www.kluwerarbi - tration.com (Access date: March 2018).