International commercial disputes: representation and assistance.

Existing law includes provisions that govern arbitration and conciliation proceedings for international commercial disputes. Existing law authorizes the parties in a conciliation proceeding to appear in person or be represented or assisted by any person of their choice, and provides that a person representing or assisting a party is not required to be a member of the legal profession or licensed to practice law in California. This bill would recast the provision regarding representation and assistance of parties, thus making the provision applicable to any arbitration or conciliation proceeding conducted pursuant to the statutory provisions that govern arbitration and conciliation of international commercial disputes. The bill would also express the intent of the Legislature that those statutory provisions be broadly construed so as to promote California's interest in becoming a major center for international commercial arbitration.