Seat of arbitration

The seat of arbitration is a juridical concept, not simply the physical venue for hearings. It links the arbitration to a national legal order and identifies the courts that may support or supervise the process, including challenges to awards. Choosing Switzerland as a seat often offers a neutral forum, arbitration-friendly courts, and clear separation between international arbitration and ordinary litigation. The seat should be distinguished from the governing law of the contract, the language of proceedings, and the place where witnesses or hearings are located.