Definition
Sciences Po Arbitration Society (SPAS or the Society) is an organisation constituted by current and former students and faculty members of Sciences Po Paris and their associates, bringing them together for the purposes of the study and practice of arbitration as set out in Article 2.
2. Objectives and initiatives
The Society is a non-partisan, not-for-profit organisation which aims to promote the study and practice of arbitration, and encourage the sharing of knowledge, experiences and good arbitration practices. In particular, the Society has the following objectives:
a) To foster a sense of community amongst past and present SPLS students, SPLS faculty members, and associates;
b) To create a forum for the exchange of ideas on the settlement of disputes by arbitration and other methods of alternative dispute resolution (ADR);
c) To generate intellectual discourse on emerging issues and trends in the settlement of disputes by arbitration and other methods of ADR;
d) To provide networking opportunities between SPAS members.
In order to achieve these objectives, the Society may carry out the following initiatives, among others:
a) organising and supporting in-depth exchanges of ideas on matters of common interest to the members of the Society;
b) Holding academic, social or cultural events;
c) Setting up working groups dedicated to analysing issues relevant to arbitration and other modes of ADR;
d) Publishing books, journals or reports;
e) Establishing collaborative relations with bodies or institutions in connection to the Society’s mission;
f) Creating mailing lists, social media pages and social media groups to promote the Society and its activities;
g) Any other activity proposed by the Executive Committee.
3. Guiding principles
In carrying out its activities, the Society will observe the principles of impartiality , integrity, transparency and good faith, pursuing its objectives without any prejudice as to origin, race, gender, sexual orientation, religious creed or age.
4. Resources
Upon the Executive Committee’s initiative, the Society may engage in campaigns to raise funds to finance its operations, which include inter alia the issuing of calls for voluntary contributions to the Society’s members and the pursuit of sponsors.
5. Governance
SPAS shall be comprised of the following bodies:
a) Executive Committee (EC);
b) Advisory Board; and
c) General Assembly.
6. Executive Committee
The EC shall have the power and duty to conduct the Society’s day-to-day activities of the Society, which include but are not limited the following:
a) Ensure the smooth running of the Society’s activities;
b) Ensure the financial health of the Society;
c) To plan and implement the Society’s activities;
d) Approve the admission of new Members;
e) Expel Members in the event of just cause, with due process, an adversarial process and a full defence being observed in the exclusion procedure.
The EC shall be comprised of a President and four Vice-Presidents.
All members of the EC shall be Full Members of the Society.
The President and Vice-Presidents are appointed for a three (3)-year term, serving a maximum of three (3) terms.
The President shall be appointed by the Chair of the Advisory Board.
The Vice-Presidents are appointed by the President and ratified by the Chair of the Advisory Board.
In the event of resignation or casual vacancy of the President or any of the Vice-Presidents, the Chair of the Advisory Board will appoint a new President or Vice-President as soon as possible.
All members of the EC shall have equal rights to speak and vote at its meetings.
Members of the EC shall not receive any remuneration for the exercise of their mandate.
7. The Advisory Board
The Advisory Board is the body performing a consultative, supervisory and honorary role. In particular, the Advisory Board shall:
a) Support the Society’s activities;
b) Facilitate the running of the Society’s activities as and when required by the EC ;
c) Advise the Executive Committee as and when required by the Executive Committee.
The Advisory Board is composed of a Chair and 4 Board Members.
The Chair of the Advisory Board shall be the Director of the Sciences Po Law School LLM in Transnational Arbitration & Dispute Settlement.
The Board Members are appointed by the EC for a 4 year-term, serving a maximum of 2 terms.
The Board Members shall be either Full or Associate Members of the Society, and shall have the necessary experience in the arbitration field to guide the EC.
The Chair and the Board Members shall have equal rights to speak and vote at the Advisory Board meetings.
The Chair and the Board Members shall not receive any remuneration for the exercise of their mandate.
8. The General Assembly
The General Assembly is the meeting of the Members in accordance with these regulations, and has the following powers:
a) Propose activities to the EC ;
b) Propose amendments to these Articles of Association;
c) Propose the removal of EC members;
d) Examine matters submitted to it by the EC .
Resolutions of the General Assembly shall be passed by a simple majority of those present, except in the case of dismissal of officers of the Society, where the resolution shall be passed by a favourable vote of two-thirds of those present.
9. Admission to SPAS and Membership
Admission to the Society will follow an application process, reviewed and approved by the EC.
Full and Associate members shall have the ability to hold office and vote in the manner referred to in sections 6 to 8 of this Statute.
Each Member shall be entitled to one (1) vote at the General Assembly.
Members may set up regional or thematic committees at their discretion, subject to the approval of the EC .
10. Amendments
By the initiative of the members of the EC, this Statute may be amended by a two-third majority of votes of the EC .
Sciences Po Arbitration Society 