BVI International Arbitration

1. What legislation applies to arbitration in your country? Are there any mandatory laws?

The legislation governing arbitration in the British Virgin Islands (the "BVI") is the Arbitration Act 2013 (the "Arbitration Act" or the "Act"). The Act came into force on 1 October 2014 and repealed the Arbitration Act 1976. The Arbitration Act established the BVI International Arbitration Centre (the "BVI IAC") which opened in 2016. The BVI IAC has issued its own rules, the BVI IAC Arbitration Rules (the "Rules") (see Question 6 below) which were updated last in 2021.

Part XI of the Act sets out the mandatory and nonmandatory provisions.

2. Is your country a signatory to the New York Convention? Are there any reservations to the general obligations of the Convention?