Clause · Arbitration & Alternative Dispute Resolution
ACICA model arbitration clause (standard and expedited): choosing and completing it
Points to ACICA's current published model clauses and explains how to complete them: rules, seat, language, number of arbitrators, optional add-ons and the drafting errors that make an arbitration clause unworkable.
- Kind
- Clause. Wording to drop into a longer document.
- Where it applies
- Australia, New South Wales, International / cross-border
- AI use
- Yellow AI can help in set ways. A lawyer checks specific points before use.
- Law stated as at
- 17 October 2026
- Status
- Maintained. Checked on 17 October 2026 against the official form at acica.org.au and the 4 authorities it cites, for Australia, New South Wales and International / cross-border.
- Version
- 1
- Source
- Link to the official form. Licence: © ACICA — all rights reserved; ACICA states parties are free to insert its model clause into their contracts. Link to the current wording; do not store a copy.
Where this comes from
The official form is published by acica.org.au; this page is a completion guide. Last checked on 2026-10-17.
When to use it
Use when a commercial contract with an Australian connection should send disputes to institutional arbitration under the ACICA Rules. Copy the clause from ACICA's website word for word and complete the bracketed choices. Do not use where the parties want court litigation, or where another institution's rules (for example ICC, SIAC or AMINZ) are agreed.
How AI may be used
AI may extract and compare the dispute resolution clauses across a contract suite and flag gaps, but the institution's model wording must be inserted verbatim from the official source and the choices made by the lawyer.
AI may
- Extract seat, rules, number of arbitrators, language, governing law and any court carve-outs from existing clauses into a table
- Flag inconsistent dispute resolution clauses across related contracts
- Check that the completed clause names the institution and rules exactly as published
AI must not
- Must not paraphrase or "improve" the institution's model wording
- Must not choose the seat, rules or number of arbitrators
- Must not add escalation steps or carve-outs the client has not instructed
The lawyer checks
- The clause matches ACICA's current published wording and names the correct rules
- Seat, language and number of arbitrators reflect the client's instructions
- Any multi-tier steps have clear time limits and an end point
- Dispute resolution clauses in related contracts are consistent
Method: how the Green, Yellow and Red levels are decided. This is guidance for planning, not legal advice.
Official form
Open the official form. Always use the current version from the issuer. Licence: © ACICA — all rights reserved; ACICA states parties are free to insert its model clause into their contracts. Link to the current wording; do not store a copy..
Read the full text
The full text is for signed-in accounts. It is free. When you sign in you can:
- read the whole precedent, with its drafting notes beside it;
- copy it, or download it as a Word file or Markdown;
- add it to your firm’s knowledge base, so colleagues can find it;
- let the AI tools you connect read it from that knowledge base.
The summary, the law it rests on and the AI-use guidance above stay public. Privacy.
More in Arbitration & Alternative Dispute Resolution
- Notice of arbitration (ACICA Rules, with UNCITRAL and ad hoc variants)
- Mediation agreement (with confidentiality and recording/AI-notetaker clause)
- Redfern schedule for document production requests (with guidance)
- Procedural order (or party agreement) on the use of AI in the arbitration
- Notice and consent for AI transcription or notetaking in mediations and other ADR sessions
All precedents for Arbitration & Alternative Dispute Resolution · Tasks and AI use in this area